A Website for Your Business

More and more a website is becoming essential for any practice. The big question is how do you get one. While it is possible to go out and hire someone to build you a website, it's also possible to design and create a website for those of you who want to do it yourself. Website planning is the same regardless of which method you choose.

1. Choose a domain name. In many cases this will be your practice. Attempt to purchase it as a dot-com. You can purchase your domains from various domain resellers. The one that I use is GoDaddy. Domain names generally run $9.00 per year.

2. Start visiting other practice websites. Take note of color, design, and content. Bookmark the ones that you like so you can visit them again.

3. While you are visiting other practice websites, start keeping notes about the type of content that you want on your website.

4. Think that your patients/clients coming to your site.<?b> What is the one thing you want them to do? Where do you want to lead them? You'll definitely want your navigation clear and easy to follow. Depending on your clientele, you want your font large enough to be read.

5. What forms do you want your patients to download? For example, registration form, health history, financial agreements, HIPPA, and perhaps patient education.

6. Depending on how you are setting up your website, you will also need to have hosting. There are many reputable hosting companies available. The one that I use is Hostgator.

7. Gather all the content for your website including articles, forms for download, any photos or graphics that you want to include such as staff photos. Once your site is ready, having this available will allow you to build your site very quickly.

Website development may be in the form of a standard HTML site, or you may want to use a blog.