Thinking of launching your own website? Talk to a web designer first or read my article...

So you're thinking of setting up and designing a new website or giving an existing website a facelift.

You are aware that a website can wonders do for a company such as it will generate revenue online, generate leads & enquiries, strengthen a brand and much more.

BUT, you are not sure on how to ensure maximum success with your site. Our 10 step guide can help you decide if you can develop one yourself or seek professional assistance from web design & development companies.

1. What is the purpose of your website. Do you want it to solely act as an online brochure (information website) for your products and services? Will you use it to generate leads or to present a showcase your skills and previous work carried out. Or are you looking to sell your products online? In which case an ecommerce solution (shopping cart) would be needed.

2. What is your target market? How big is it? What is the competition up to and what are the buying patterns used by the customers who use that market? Understanding your market and your competition will allow you to identify your customer needs and build an effective site set to this target.

3. Think WHY. Why would a prospect want to use my site and what are MY aims? You maybe looking to reduce your sales resource and allow your prospects to purchase through an online, automatic system? Are you hoping that your prospects will come to the site to see the breadth of your skills? And how often do you expect prospects/customers to use it? Do you need to think about sufficient infrastructure to support high demand, do you need to ensure your website content is updated daily?

4. Site management. In-house or outsourced? If your website requires frequent updates and you do not have the resource in-house, it might be worth looking at investing in a system that enables you to update information through an easy-to-use web interface (this is know as a content management system or CMS). This would allow members of your organisation make basic changes to the site. Or you could enter into an agreement with your web development company to pay a set fee for a web maintenance contract. You could of course do any updates yourself, but if you need your website to be compliant with current UK legislation, unless you have a good understanding of writing accessible code, you could jeopardise its integrity.

5. Will your site fit into your marketing strategy? Will it act as your sole form of communication with prospects or will it support other mediums and sales channels?

6. Do you plan to take payments online? Have you considered online security and how to show to your customers that their personal details are safe?

7. What budget do you have in mind? Allocating a sufficient budget to the project is vital. Don't expect to get a high quality professional website design that meets your exacting needs for pennies. Whilst is it impossible to scope out an accurate payscale for every concept a good rule of thumb is: Brochure websites: Expect to pay between £500 and £2,000 depending on content requirements Ecommerce solutions: Expect to pay between £1,500 and £5,000 for SMB's. Larger corporations can expect to pay upwards of £25k Remember, if you pay pennies, your results will, in time, reflect this investment. Your website represents your company!

8. Content. Ensure your content matches your business model and represents your aspirations as a company.

9. Website accessibility. Making a website accessible involves considering the needs of all the different users who may wish to use your site, regardless of disabilities and of the differences between various Internet browsers.

10. OK, you know what you need, but how do you get it? Speak to an expert. Web developers are human, you will be able to tap into many years qualified experience, this will ensure that you get the most out of the project.

Considering things like search engine optimisation and how business in conducted in the online environment will give an insight that is more likely to result in a successful site. Additionally, experience of making successful websites in such a competitive environment could make the difference for your website.