Here’s a question I get asked a lot:

As a small business owner, should I have a Blog or Website?

My answer: both.

The way I see it, there is never a reason not to have as much presence on the Internet as possible – especially when you can have both for about the same amount of money.

Having 2 different websites (1 a “Blog”, 1 a “website”) under 2 different domain names is a great strategy for broadening your online presence for next to nothing.

You can also have a website with “Blog” features like RSS, updated/archived articles, YouTube videos, etc.

All it takes is careful planning and you can have your own Blog and a nice looking Website for about $100 per year.

Ingredients: Wordpress and a robust Web Hosting Plan.

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You can use Hostgator as your Web Host (we do), and sign up for their Baby Croc plan.

This plan offers unlimited domains, disk space, and bandwidth.

It also comes with a free website builder that allows you to easily create a professional looking website.

A Blog (a contraction of the term “web log”)[1] is a type of website, usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. –Wikipedia

Don’t forget that having a Blog will take some work.

Someone will have to write the articles for it.

If you don’t like to write articles (and you don’t want to pay for articles), then maybe you’ve answered the question already: a Blog is probably not for you.

• What will you write about?

• Do you really have the time?

• Are you willing to write an article at least once a week?

Still on the fence?

A web consultant can help you work out the details – but take my word for it: having a Blog and Website should be considered even if you are on a tight budget.

Ready to strike out and create your own Website? Go for it!

1. Watch Your Color Combinations

The main problem for most DIY Web Designers is color – and the fantasy that whatever colors or color combinations that appeal to you will appeal to everyone else.

Many people get so excited over the millions of Website colors available, they want to use them all.

Or they want a “unique look” and concoct an eye-distressing color combination.

The truth is, it’s best to just stick with the basics.

You’ve seen Amazon and Google – and they probably know what works:

White backgrounds, dark text.

2. Cut The “Me” Content

Your site visitors don’t care about you.

People really have only come to your website because they hope you can do something for them.

So why not take some time and make sure that your content focuses on your site visitor, and what benefits your services will bring to them.

The “you” words you use on your website will matter a lot.

3. Don’t Crowd Your Site With Junk

White space is good.

Leave appropriate margins and use short paragraphs to keep your site “clean”.

Remember that words matter.

Relevance matters even more.

The eyes need room to roam.

4. Banish Pop-Up Ads

Nothing can scare away a site visitor faster than a pop-up window that must be dealt with.

Don’t you find pop-ups annoying?

Why use something on your site that is very likely to tick people off?

If you are interested in making sure you draw repeat site visitors, you won’t use pop-ups.

5. Bling & Blinkies Be Gone

• Photographs are great to spice up a website, but only if they reflect you, your prospect, or your business – and if they look professional.

• Unusual fonts are for the most part unnecessary. Your visitor needs to be able to read what your site is talking about. A fancy font isn’t going to make that task easier!

• Animated GIFs (if used at all) should be used sparingly – because they can draw attention away from your content, and can make your site look dated. (Not good!)

• Music is not recommended – especially “midi” music that is blatantly “computerized”. Music is just one more thing that can distract your site visitors.

Keep these Tips in mind, and step bravely onto the World Wide Web!

This is a radical way to think about effectively marketing a Small Business today: that a Website is simply not needed.

Frankly, I am shocked when I hear that a small business owner has made a conscious choice to not take his/her business online.

I guess as a web consultant, I automatically assume that by now – everyone knows the distinct advantages and benefits of having a solid web presence.

And yet, there are the numbers.

According to recent reports, less than 40% of small businesses with fewer than 5 employees have a website.

But how can this be, when it is so incredibly easy and affordable to have a professional looking website?

The fact is, a website is essential for:

•    Increasing Sales
•    Cost-Effective Marketing
•    Building Customer Relationships

A well-designed website is a “success” vehicle for your business.

Given the choice between having a vehicle to get you from here to there – and walking from here to there, which would you think would get you there faster?

Money Is Not The Issue.

It used to be a common excuse that having a Website built meant you had to shell out tons of money to a web designer to make your site look “cool and professional”.

Okay, I’ll give you that one.

Once upon a time, web “masters” were charging an arm and a leg for fancy multimedia and graphic intensive websites.

Today, multimedia is mostly on DVDs, CDs, and YouTube – not on small business websites.

A professional looking website today can be had for under $200.

You can even start an Ebay store for less than $20 a month.

And don’t forget that you can set up a Blog for Free.

Maybe You’re Just Afraid.

Most of us don’t like to admit when we are afraid.

We fear (!) that this makes us appear weak.

So some of us put on a bold face, and proclaim that the Internet and all it’s techno mumbo-jumbo is a bunch of hyped-up nonsense.

Maybe you fear that you are not computer savvy enough to set up your own Website or Blog.

But why not try it? What would you have to lose?

If you can use a word-processor, you can set up a Blog at Wordpress.com and be up and running within a few hours – FOR FREE.

Or you could step up and have an affordable Small Business Website designed.

So maybe it’s time to leave some of the more destructive small business myths behind, and give your Small Business a real chance to succeed.

Actually, you do need a website.