Business & Careers Article:

Show Mummy The Money - Developing a Website

By: Cath Freemantle of Bump, Baby and Beyond

You've got a great idea… you know it will sell, you've done your research, and you think a website is the way to go. So what's next? How does a modern mummy go about creating her own little (or big!) online empire?

Now, don't be daunted! Whilst developing an online presence can be a challenge there are numerous resources available to you, in the form of private companies and contractors, government organisations and plenty of websites!

First things first - a name. And that isn't as simple as it might sound. Your best bet is to compile a generous list with options you like, then hit the web. You'll be looking for several different things:

• is the business name already registered? - check out www.abr.business.gov.au and do a search
• will you be infringing on any trademarks, here or overseas? - go to www.ipaustralia.gov.au
• is there a suitable domain name available to match? www.ausregistry.com.au

Before you choose your domain name, decide if you are after a global name (like the ones that end in .net and .com) or one with a country extension - that is, for example, .com.au for Australia. We went for a country extension on www.bumpbabyandbeyond.com.au as our discounted baby, kids and maternity wear is aimed at a local market. We still get international customers, but they are most often looking to purchase a newborn baby gift for delivery to friends and relatives in Australia.

Next step is to arrange for your domain name to be hosted. Many web-hosting services allow you to register the domain and have it hosted all in the one place. Do some research, check out the prices, speak to whoever is going to help you with your design - they may have some suggestions. Another option is your existing ISP - Internet Service Provider, contact them for details or check out their web site. Make sure that the serving environment is a professional one, providing dedicated servers, backup servers and 24 hour management of any problems that may arise.

Now comes the fun part - creating your dream! You can do this yourself, with the help of various programs and sites that have free templates for you to download. You then use their "wizards" to create your site, often with relatively simple cut and paste methods.

If you are hesitant to take such a big step, or if your site will be particularly detailed, you can hire someone to do the work for you. Prices for this vary on the size and structure of the site, but a good way to get started is to visit sites you really like the feel of, a forum site, your favourite online store, and check out who they used. Ring around some local companies and get a feel for the person you will be working with - you really need to feel heard and understood. We did both, and ended up going with a local company whose own website we liked, and who we felt really "got" what we were trying to do.

Whomever you choose, make sure you have seen a range of sites that the have developed, and clarify all items to be included in the service before you start. Are they creating a checkout for you? How will payments be processed? Do you need to set up any merchant accounts? Will Search Engine Optimisation be part of the package? Will they arrange submission of your newly created site to search engines and directories? Do you get decent coffee during your meetings?

The most important thing is that your site is able to be found - there is no point creating a site and just expecting the money to roll in! Advertising both online and offline can take many forms and should be taken into account when budgeting for your businesses start up costs. Make sure that your web and email address appear on all correspondence, advertising, business cards - heck, put it on your car! Discover industry sites, forums, directories or other related sites that may be interested in listing your site on theirs - for free, for a fee, or as part of a link swap arrangement.

Whatever you do, keep working at it - a good website requires ongoing maintenance and improvement. Best wishes in your endeavours - we would love to hear how you go!

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