HAVE A WEBSITE?: IF YOU GOT IT- FLAUNT IT! When I drive around town, I always see business signage but very seldom do I see a sign with the establishment’s website being promoted. As a graphic designer who provides a web building service I will stop by and offer my services to them. That is when they inform me that they have do have a website. Then I suggest that if “they have a site - to flaunt it!” - they should be promoting it by putting a sign out in front of their business with the business’ ‘Domain Name’ (URL: Universal Resource Locator). “Of this, I speak from firsthand experience, because while about the streets of Houston, when I see something, a product or service that interests me, I automatically look for a website name so that I can refer to it at a later date from the convenience of my own home,” says Ray Gatica, from webs4you.co. Websites can consist of few hundred pages mostly found in long established businesses and large corporations, who have a staff dedicated to expanding and maintaining the websites full time. And, on the other end of the spectrum, there are small businesses with 5-page sites, which all businesses must at least have at a minimum. A small 5-pager, starter site serves to secure your domain name, and space in the world-wide-web and it can always be added on too, as the business grows. If nothing else, every business you should have a basic, starter website, parked with a 1-page minimum, with the business’ contact information, services and products and its address. A newly built website can be up and running within 5-10 days. The client will provide graphics, photos, and graphics. “A basic site is not meant to make your business a million dollar business over night, but in time, it will become a very important part of your long-term business’ success,” says Gatica. “And remember once you got your website up and working for you on the internet – Flaunt it! Promote it!” says Gatica. Gatica says “Having your own in-house webmaster is the ultimate thing for any small business - someone that can build, maintain and update your websites as needed. If you would like to learn how to build and maintain your own in-house ,website, we can help, by outlining the software and programs needed, along with finding a web host to up-load your newly built site to the internet,”. We can also train your employees in basic web building. Recommendations for a typical, basic, starter site should include around five pages: a Home Page w/Graphic and links to the other pages in the site; an About Us page, with your businesses’ history, mission and business philosophy; a Google Map page or search information or street map; a Contact page, with pertinent information like the business’ phone number , your address, and contact person’s name, etc.; 1 or 2 pages with appropriate pictures, graphics with search engine, searchable literary content, key words and phrases; and finally an Email account set up and connected to the respective site, i.e.: info@webs4you.co. This allows customers to email inquiries regarding your services or products directly to the business’ computer. Website services usually include: an initial consultation, registering the domain name, editing and sizing the graphics and photographs; write content based on what we receive from clients; build the site with assorted pages that are linked together. Once the site is built we upload it to the internet. The client now has the chance to access the website at their computer, and view and check for errors. We then make corrections and put up the site up again. A newly built website can be up and running within 5-10 days. The client will provide graphics, photos, and graphics. Gatica warns: “Beware of website services that try to sell you on the idea of building a site with excessively flashy graphics and pictures. This does not make your website Google friendly and may be a detriment to your site while people are searching for your products and services.” For more information you can visit webs4you.co, or by call, 281-441-9714.