Developing Web Content: A Small Business Website

Developing Web content: A Small Business Website

As a web content specialist, I work with clients in need of a website and website designers who create websites. What’s the number one issue that delays the small business website launch? Written content.

I find that web designers, generally, are not interested in writing. Their talents lie in the visual and eye-catching aesthetics of website design. The client, a small business owner, will often agree to supply the designers with written content. Unless the client knows how to specifically write for the web, the client-created content either delays the launch of the website or hinders the search engine optimization of the website.

The solution? Find a local and talented web content specialist to research and write the content for the website. If the client insists on writing the content then offer your web content specialist’s services as “Search Engine Optimization” (SEO) services.

Be forthright with your client and explain the importance of SEO. Show them Google’s Search Engine Optimization Starter Guide. The enormity of this document alone should emphasize how vital SEO is, and the labor involved making it happen.

No budget, no writer: What to do

It just may be the case that there’s no budget for a content specialist. How can the web design team and the client come up with the best-written content for free? The web designer must ask the right questions, and the client must provide the answers. Have this process completed before the design process begins.

The right questions

Use the following questions to develop content for a small business website.

What is the company name goes here and what products/services do they offer the public? Answer this question in 3 sentences of less.

Explain and describe how the company name goes here differs from its competitors.

Discuss the company name goes here unique approach to this trade, i.e. your business methodology, ethics etc.

Discuss the company name goes here business tag line, “company tagline goes here.”

Does your business have a mission statement? If so, what is it?

List every service you offer your customers and a brief description about each service.

As owner of the company name goes here, what personal information (‘About Us’ web page for example) would you like your customers and potential customers to know about you? Such as:

· Qualifications

· Awards and accolades

· Organizations (in your trade) you belong to

· Family (optional)

· Civic engagement (optional)

Conclusion

Written content is vital for a small business website. Unfortunately, it’s often considered after the web design process begins. Develop written content before the web design process begins. If the budget allows hire a local web content specialist. Web content specialists can help expedite the web design process and the launch of a small business website.