Even if you are not a Harris Technology or a Woolworths, there's really is no excuse for an unprofessional looking Web site if you're planning to do business over the Internet. When planning their e-commerce initiatives some businesses have forgotten what the Internet is all about. The Internet has become a powerful and potent way of putting your business on the world stage regardless of your company's size. The Internet is a revolutionary tool for businesses because it gives all enterprising business people a chance to do just as well selling or promoting their company online as any of the big playersââ,¬"you could call it the ultimate level playing field.
On the Web, your company's physical presence doesn't matter. You could be a team of 10, selling gift baskets online and sell your site with just as much style, professionalism and success as David Jones online. As a small vendor on the Internet your public face is your site. You can choose to compete, with a site that takes on those of your competition or you can look like an amateur. Like it or not, your site is key to the way your customers see you, and it makes good marketing sense to get it looking and working right.
One more reason I can't believe the number of bad Web sites I've come across is the staggering amount of software available to help you design a great looking site. If a home page is all you're after, in this issue we've reviewed a number of free Web-hosting sites, all of which provide you with the tools to design your own tasteful site. If you're more ambitious or if you want to jump in and start selling online, there's a wealth of cheap software on the market designed to get anyone building great looking sites.
I've just gotten hold of IXLA's Web Easy, a Web page design package. Though not too well known in this country, IXLA is an Australian company that's been doing well in the Statesââ,¬"so well in fact that IXLA's Explorer image cataloguing software has just won a coveted PC Week Best of Comdex Award (the Web Easy product was a finalist for the same award last year!) According to IXLA, Web Easy can have even a complete novice creating and publishing a Web page in less than one hour, so I've decided to put it to the test. Over the next couple of weeks I've challenged myself to finally set up my own Web site. I might take the opportunity to sell some of an uncle's oil paintings on the site, and therefore set-up my own mini online store. Next month I'll give you my Web site address so you can visit and tell me what you think. I still stand by the fact that people are not going to want to visit, let alone buy products or place ads on ugly looking Web sites, so you'll have to let me know if I'm practising what I preach! In the meantime, lets hope we start seeing fewer second-rate Web pages. Let's pick up our design skills a little and make the Internet a nicer place to visit.
Anna Raciti is the Assistant Editor of PC Magazine Australia and can be contacted at anna@zdapn.com.au.
