I believe that the problem that we run into when looking at creating a website is that we are bombarded with flashy websites everywhere. When the time comes for us to create our own website the fear of competing with such glamorous portals is so overwhelming that we tend to just give up. Creating a website should be a very simple and easy process. There are many tools free and not so free all over the Internet ready to provide you with the website of your dreams but, should you be using all those fancy gimmicks? Think about this before you spend either too much time or too much money creating a glitzy website if it requires some fancy work to get it displayed, it will also invariably take far too long to display. Too often, the great majority of Internet visitors are still on some form of dialup where it can take a lifetime to display some pages. If your website does not grab the grab the visitor's interest while it is loading up you will lose that visitor. For the vast majority of websites being created by the major brands out there the goal is to generate a contact that will be followed-up by someone so the glitzier the website the more it will stand out from the competition.
What is the goal of your website? If you are just starting out online and you don't have a big brand name behind you (and the large bank account to support it) then your best bet is to create a feature rich website. Here are some suggestions for you on how to create an appealing website. Make it simple but provide lots of good information, such as thoughtful articles, links to other websites, and free ebooks.To create this good information, do some research at your local library, or ask others to provide you with articles, making sure that you acknowledge this contribution properly. If you find websites that complement (not compete with) yours, send an email to the contact on those websites asking for an exchange of links. As far as e-books, these can be created from work you have done or simply from your own effort. Failing that, enlist the help of a ghost writer, but don't spend too much on this either. Create something that appeals to a broad audience and then get feedback from others outside of your circle of friends on how to increase that appeal even more. Ask your visitors for information on how you can improve their experience when they visit your website.
You may have to wait until you have a few visitors before you do that and you may even add a survey link on your site. Someone said that the way to wealth is to help enough other people reach their goals. The Internet is a big meeting hall and the ones that have the highest integrity will also reap the highest rewards. Therefore, treat both your visitors and your partners extremely well. Treat your visitors very well and very gratefully. Not only because they are helping you reach your goals but because they chose your website instead of the million others out there. And treat your partners with integrity because they have the ability to help you reach even higher through their trust in you and in your respect to their own customers. Remember, in the final analysis a business online is not much different from the neighborhood business. The major difference is that your visitors come from all walks of life, from all parts of the globe, and have very similar desires. Your goal is to make sure that their pain is removed after they stop at your website and that will be the beginning of your success.