5 tips when starting a Web Site
by Omar AlBadri on 7/8/2008 9:52:00 PM
Thinking of starting a web site? Here are some tips to get you started...
Have a killer idea for a site that will change the world? Here are some tips that will help you out:
1. Do your research and don't get discouraged.
Remember the movie "Knocked Up"? Where the characters in the film spent all there time creating a web site that already existed. If you think you have a original idea, research it see if anyone has already done it. If they have don't be discouraged. Think of ways you could do it better. Think Fark.com versus Digg.com. Fark had the idea of link sharing first, but Digg.com did it a whole lot better. Never let the fact that your idea is not original stop you from improving on a idea. It has been done before successfully. Did people stop making social networking site because Myspace.com cornered the market? No, along comes Facebook. Ideas can always be improved upon.
2. First make it work then make it pretty.
The biggest mistake I see people make when starting a web site is they get over obsessed with the look and design of the site. They spend countless hours and dollars making it look perfect, but they forget that IT HAS TO BE FUNCTIONAL!! Take a quick look at this link. Recognize the site? That is digg.com when it first came out. Notice that it looks like nothing but links and some text, but it worked. You can always pay someone to make your site look pretty after you finish the code. Remember first make it work then make it pretty.
3. Plan on how your site will succeed.
Unless your independently wealth I assume you are creating a web site for some sort of capital gain now or in the future. Well decide how you are going to make money. Decide if you content is good enough that people will pay? Can you make enough on google adwords? Will the site be free until you have X amount of users. Will you charge for advertising on you site. Having a business plan in place will help you optimize your site for what even method you choose. Plus knowing if you are doing advertising or google ads will greatly help when it come to designing you site as the placement of these banners are crucial.
4. Always look to improve.
I seen people with great ideas crash and burn. Why because they were so protective about there idea that they refused to listen to people or take advice. I am not saying all advice is good but in general you should get feed back from people whom you trust. Remember they could be your target audience some day and they might be giving you critical advice that could make or break your site. Try to stay objective and always be on the look out for improvement even if they are not your idea.
5. Never give up,never lose faith and always finish what you started.
Put it this way, if you don't believe in your site who will. There will be many obstacles, people will tell you that your idea is stupid and it will never work. People will always discourage you. It is up to you to believe that what you are doing will work. If you believe in your vision so will others. At the very least you will have a functional site that does something cool. Most people cannot say that...
