Microsoft Office Live Small Business and Startup Nation are committed to helping entrepreneurs start and nurture their businesses by providing solutions that can be put into action immediately.

Table of Contents:
Step 1: Plan Your Web Presence.......................................................5
Defining your Customers and Mission...............................................................6
Choosing and Buying your Domain Name........................................................7
Text, Images and other Graphic Elements........................................................7
Budgets, and Who Does What..........................................................................9
Step 2: Choose DIY or Go with a Pro...............................................10
DIY Web Site Packages..................................................................................11
Choosing a Web Design Professional.............................................................12
SEO and Red Flags........................................................................................12
Step 3: Select the Tools for Making Your HomeWeb.......................15
Web Hosting....................................................................................................16
FTP: File Transfer Protocol.............................................................................17
Merchant Accounts..........................................................................................17
Managing your Web Images...........................................................................18

Step 4: Make Key Design Decisions................................................19
General Design Principles...............................................................................20
Getting Around on Your Web Site...................................................................21
‘Seniors’ and Special Needs...........................................................................23
Step 5: Learn the Code....................................................................26
What is Hypertext Markup Language?............................................................27
How Does It Work?.........................................................................................29
Understanding HTML Tools............................................................................30
Step 6: Identify the Best Software for Words & Images...................31
WYSIWYG vs. HTML Software.......................................................................32
Best Values.....................................................................................................32
Some Tips on ‘Deals’ to Avoid.........................................................................33
Top-of-the-Line Design Software.....................................................................33
For More Information.......................................................................................34
Step 7: Take Control Over the Look, Feel and Function..................35
Storefront Software Packages.........................................................................36
Shopping Cart 101..........................................................................................37
Amazon.com: The Gold Standard...................................................................37
When to Hire a Pro..........................................................................................38

Step 8: Optimize Your Site for Search Engines................................39
What is SEO?..................................................................................................40
Some Cautions................................................................................................40
How SEO Works.............................................................................................40
How Search Engines Rank Web Sites............................................................41
SEO Best Practices.........................................................................................41
Who and What to Avoid...................................................................................43
SEO Maintenance...........................................................................................44
Step 9: Put All the Parts Together....................................................46
Testing Your Site.............................................................................................47
Staff and Customer Site Reviews....................................................................47
Testing on Different Platforms and Browsers..................................................48
Tracking Bugs, Confirming Fixes and Testing Links (Again)...........................50
Resources:......................................................................................................50
Step 10: Take your Web site Live!....................................................51
Register with Search Engines.........................................................................52
Buy Ads for Better Placement.........................................................................52
Sign Up with "What’s New" Directories...........................................................54
Launch a PR Campaign..................................................................................55
Try Pay-Per-Click............................................................................................55
Start a Blog.....................................................................................................55
Step 11: Constantly Tend to Your Web Site.....................................57
Keep Things Secure........................................................................................58
Manage Existing Content................................................................................59
Tend Your Analytics and SEO.........................................................................59
Add New Content and Links............................................................................60
Constantly Promote Your Web Site.................................................................60
Reconsider Ads...............................................................................................60
Last Words......................................................................................................61
About StartupNation.........................................................................62
Additional Podcasts Shows.............................................................................62
Links to Additional Small Business Advice......................................................62
Resources........................................................................................63

Download 11 Steps to Create a Successful Web Site

PDF format, 3.7MB, 64Pages.

Published by Microsoft Office Live Small Business and Startup Nation.

"Get your free copy of "11 Steps to Create a Successful Web Site." This 64-page downloadable e-book (in PDF format) includes powerful advice and how-to tips about planning your Web site, making key design decisions, and optimizing your site for search engines."

Visit 11 Steps to Create a Successful Web Site Microsoft Web Page

About Microsoft Office Live Small Business:

Microsoft Office Live Small Business is a suite of Internet-based services for small businesses, designed to get you up and running online quickly and easily – all you need is a computer and an Internet connection.

Microsoft Office Live Small Business services allow you to create a professional online presence without the expense of buying a server, setting up a complicated infrastructure and hiring technical staff to maintain it.

Office Live Small Business includes everything you need to create a professional Web site, including a free domain name (e.g., www.adventure-works.com) easy site design tools (no HTML, required), Web hosting, company-branded email accounts, online tools to market your site, and even your own intranet site – an online and central space to store documents, customer information and project status. Plus you get simple online applications and tools to better collaborate with customers, employees and business stakeholders.

“Office Live is one of the most important online products I've seen--a very compelling suite of Web services for small business.”
–Webware staff, CNET.com, June 2007

About StartupNation:

StartupNation is the world's largest online community of startups, offering all of the resources you need to read up, meet up, start up and rev up your own success.

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