Ten Thoughts On Creating a Website: 1. Do I Need a Developer?

Putting together a website is fun but can also be a big project. After listening to the questions and comments of my clients over the past few years, I’ve put together a bare-bones list of some basic considerations - a Website 101 sort of guide. I hope you find it helpful, interesting, or at least amusing!

If you have a working knowledge of HTML, software to edit images, and time on your hands, you can certainly make a website yourself. There are many online website builders and free blogs which will allow you to set up a simple site. However, the internet is cluttered with poorly designed sites are are difficult to use, irrelevant, and ugly. If you want an effective, well designed site which is easy to maintain, works properly with the major search engines, and will serve your needs into the future, it’s best to hire a professional.

Keep in mind that an experienced Developer has likely spent as much time thinking about what works & what doesn’t as you have spent sleeping. In some ways, a website developer is like an architect in that we create online spaces in which to build and grow a business, interact with clients, showcase merchandise, etc. A great way to think about your site is to compare it to a building in the real world.

(Inspired by Andrew Wagner’s “How To Work with An Architect” Dwell Magazine: Jan/Feb 2005)

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Small Business Set Up

I’ve benefitted from a lot of help and would like to share some of the resources I’ve found along the way. For starters, if you are launching a small business, you’ll need three basics:

1. A Municipal Buisness Tax Certificate (really your business license. Why can’t they just call it a Business License?) anyways … in San Diego, you’ll go to the County Administration building downtown (see their website for details) or you can do it by mail. The cost is minimal, I think mine was $17, but I’ll find out and add it here.

2. A business name. If it is something other than your name, you’ll need a Fictitious Business Name Statement, also called a DBA (Doing Business As). Here’s a link to a site where you can search previously registered names (to make sure yours is unique). Once you’ve decided upon a name, registration requires two steps:

• File your nifty new name with the County Clerk downtown. While you can file by mail, they urge you to do it in person, possibly so you can enjoy the charm of the 1935 County Administrative Building. See their website for the office location & more info. Cost: $20.

• Place your Notice of Ficticious Business Name Statement in a local paper. A handy one in San Diego is The Daily Transcript and you can do everything online. Cost: I’ll find out.

3. The third administrative item is a Federal Employer Identification Number, often referred to as an FEIN. For sole proprietors, until you hire any employees, this is your social security number (horrifically - since it goes on everything). For more info on getting your FEIN set up officially, see this site.

These suggestions cover mainly small business set up by sole proprietors. This is in no way intended as a comprehensive discussion of all the needs of a new business, more just a place with a few links to get you started. I hope it’s helpful!