There are so many sites on the WWW that are not successful, and the reason is almost always that whoever created the site just did not have enough knowledge to do a really good job. Keep in mind that the WWW is only a few years old and it has changed immensely in just the past two years. There really are not all that many people with a background in all of the disciplines involved. The truth is anybody can create a site - just like anybody can fix a car. It is simply a question of time, money, knowledge and experience.

Do It Yourself

The truth is that putting a site on the web today requires absolutely no knowledge at all of programming, or coding, or anything esoteric. You can create web pages using most good word processors as well as with the most popular browser - Netscape Navigator (the 3.0 Gold edition). There are a host of excellent products for creating all elements of a web site, from "no code" html generators to animation software, to graphics editors, to sound files. Maybe you have programmers on staff, or somebody who usually writes copy for you as part of their regular job. It is going to be pretty tempting to simply add a "web site" project to their workload. Maybe you even have somebody on staff who is really into the WWW and is just aching for the chance to create a site. If you simply want a site on the WWW, and don't see it as an integral part of your business plan, then by all means do it yourself. If you do see it as an integral part of your business plan and still want to create your own site, then spend a few months studying the issues mentioned in this site. Give it the same kind of serious attention that you would give to your financials. If you are serious about it you can build a successful site.

Use A Graphics Design Company

This may be a good choice. You might have been using the services of a specific graphics designer for a long time, and have built up a good working relationship. You certainly will not be disappointed in the appearance of your site, but if you have read through this site, you now understand that there are a number of issues involved that are not graphics or copy related. Even graphics companies that have staff trained in WWW page design are not necessarily conversant with all of the issues. Some graphics companies, of course, have embraced the WWW and have people on staff who are competent in all of the requisite areas.

Use Multiple Sources

This can be an excellent choice if everybody can work together, and you have someone who can adequately manage the project. If you have been in business for very long you know that this can sometimes be difficult to accomplish. Opinions, ideas, and egos can sometimes clash. If you get the right mix, however, you will wind up with a dynamite site! This choice will require more time and effort in the initial planning - which could be a blessing.

Use a Web Site Designer - WebWind Productions

As the WWW has grown over the past few years, more and more web site development companies have also come into being. Partially this is due to the business opportunity the WWW represents and partially it is due to people who started doing web pages a few years ago simply for the pure enjoyment of it. They have learned most of the information I have put down here the hard way - by trial and error. There are many self-proclaimed experts but the WWW (not necessarily the Internet) is too young and is changing too rapidly for anybody to legitimately wear the hat of "expert". The advantage to a professional web site development company is that it typically has people on staff who are knowlegable and skilled in every aspect of web site creation. You will probably save some real time and money by choosing such a company.

Many companies represent themselves as web site developers, but don't really have all of the requisite skills. Very common in the genre are the web site hosting companies or ISPs themselves. Their primary business is selling space on a server or an internet connection. They typically offer "plans". You can buy a $10 a month site or a $100 a month a site, or something in between. The sites they produce come from a small range of templates - giving all of their sites a "plain vanilla" look. Their plans are based upon the number of images in a site, or the amount of server space, or some other formula that allows them to crank out low cost sites that yield them a small profit. That is not to say their services are not worthwhile. For some companies they make perfectly good sense. It all comes back to your business goal.