Before selecting a business web hosting package, it is important to
define clear objectives for your business website. Most small
businesses target their websites at existing and/or prospective customers.
Such websites are called business-to-consumer or B2C websites. In addition to
providing general information about the company (e.g. name, location,
mission, contact numbers), B2C websites often promote the company's
products and services. Simple "brochure ware" type websites are the least expensive
types of websites to build
and only require basic web hosting functionality.
The information available on your business website can include professionally
designed PDF type glossy publications or simple web pages with "thumbnails"
of products and services that can be clicked for more detailed information.
More sophisticated B2C websites can include functionality that:
- authenticates visitors
(login ID and password)
- provides online shopping
carts
- accepts credit card transactions
- stores data in a data management system
- dynamically generates web pages from a database
Not only are these more sophisticated business websites much more expensive to develop and maintain,
they also require more sophisticated web hosting services.
Small businesses should develop an overall web development strategy based
on evolutionary principals. In other words, quickly implement a simple B2C
website and evolve that site over a period of years.
Because it can take some time for a business website to become "visible", it is important to
launch your website early,
before your competitors do the same.
