ManagementTechnology & Internet
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Solutions to Common Web Site Errors

E-commerce sales by small businesses are increasing rapidly and could double,
triple or more during the next five years. Web sites are no longer a novelty; they
are a necessity for small firms, solo operators and home businesses of almost
any type.

Meanwhile, customers have become vastly more Internet savvy than they were
just a few years ago.  They feel more comfortable buying online and they expect
Web sites to be clear, crisp, informative and highly functional. Small businesses
that don’t deliver higher levels of Web sophistication risk being left behind.

A good starting point is avoiding errors that often doom Web sites to mediocrity.
It’s not a matter of making your site complicated. Today, the “less is more” axiom
applies and often spells the difference between a Web site that delivers for your
small business, and one that doesn’t.

Don’t neglect your site. If you want the Internet to help build your business, make
your Web site a top priority in your daily operations. If your products, services,
prices, location, hours, contact information and marketing messages change,
make the updates immediately. Outdated information frustrates customers.
Place your contact information in a prominent location. Many potential customers
visit Web sites merely for basic contact details.

Flashing images, scrolling text and blinking buttons may have seemed clever
and high-tech when first introduced, but now they are simply annoying. Dump
them in favor of graphics that enhance your site usability. Avoid the temptation of
cute bells and whistles. Make a fast-loading site a top priority.

And set up a system for tracking your site activity. Don’t be in the dark about
what’s happening on your site. Simple and inexpensive Web analytic tools can
point to areas that need improvement. Two top sources for Web analysis tools
are WebTrends.com and SiteCatalyst.com. Visit the sites and check out the free
trial offers.

To learn more about ecommerce for small business, contact SCORE
"Counselors to America's Small Business." SCORE is a nonprofit organization
of more than 10,500 volunteer business counselors who provide free,
confidential business counseling and training workshops to small business
owners. Go to www.scoredm.org on the web or call (515) 284-4760 between the
hours of 10:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. Monday through Friday.