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RISING WOMEN EXPERT
ADVICE...
I started a new business and my next step is to hire a marketing firm
to design our website. Where do I begin?
When a choosing a marketing firm, you need to be selective and aware of
your budget, but most importantly you need to feel comfortable with the
marketing team you hire. Make sure to research the firm by going on their
website to see past projects and/or portfolio’s they’ve completed. If you
feel confident in their creative ability and basically like what you see on
their website, call them and schedule a meet and greet.
Once you’ve made a decision on which marketing firm you will work with, the
firm should then arrange a “brainstorming session” which essentially is the
first step in a marketing relationship. At this meeting you should be
prepared to answer what your goals are for the website, what you want the
overall “feel” of the site to be (this is the fun part) and discussions
about your budget. Most marketing firms will work within the clients’
budget.
The next question to be answered in this meeting is what type of website
will represent your business effectively and practically. It may be quite
complex or very simple in terms of layout and content. Every business is
different so you will need to determine which type of site is best for you.
After you’ve decided which type of site you like, all information such as
company owners, pictures, contact, product and service content should be
given at this time. To keep your budget on track, make sure that you take
the time to prepare all content that you would like in the site beforehand.
Don’t worry about being detailed in your writing; point form that is clear
and concise is helpful for the creative team, who will be able to rewrite it
effectively and professionally to make it flow.
The design team will then send out an electronic file with design and
content of site for approval before going live. Once approved, the designers
at the firm will work on finalizing the site. Final approval will then be
needed. Make sure you double check for any errors. Also, a good marketing
firm will reconnect with you within a couple of weeks to make sure
everything is running smoothly with your website.
Remember, this shouldn’t be a stressful process. The firm you hire will look
after your needs and make your first time website creation experience run
smoothly. Have fun and be creative.
For more great advice on website development, contact Alicia Lucyszyn of
Citrus Marketing Group at 403.863.6739 or visit
www.citrusmarketinggroup.com
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