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Firstly

There's more to making the Web work for you than a design. You should be seeking answers to some of these questions:

• How is the internet going to affect your business in the next five years?
• Can the web bring you more customers for existing products and services?
• Can the web help you to expand what you offer?
• How can the web save you time and money?

Profit Improvers Ltd through its direct experience in establishing sister internet businesses can help you answer these questions.

Secondly

The biggest design mistake is to think of your web site as a fancy, clever brochure. Here are a few steps to take to avoid the biggest mistakes.

1. Take the attitude that your website must sell - it is not just another brochure.
2. Get the best web address. Not "ABC Ltd.com" but generic words for your product or service, for example, "DrillingRigs.co.uk" or "Tubulars.com".
3. Avoid (like the plague) fancy pictures and animation - keep it simple yet professional.
4. Make it personal: have photographs of the senior managers.
5. Start with the customer. What do they want? What are their problems? Explain how you can help them.
6. Make it easy to move about the site.
7. Include email and telephone number on the site - on each page.
8. Give people something to do - complete a very short questionnaire.
9. Offer regular (one per week) updates of relevant and useful information.
10. Make it easy to order or to find extra information.
11. Watch design and hosting costs. Get quotations up-front and agree target dates. Ask to see examples of people's work and have your site hosted with people who are prepared to speak to you on the telephone.