by Tony Santos

Created on: December 29, 2007

Simply put, it's not an option. A professional and effective website is a must for any business. Most especially a home-based business. The Internet has become the communications medium of choice for most people, when it comes to conducting business and researching companies to do business with. It allows any business to conduct business anywhere in the world, free of geographical limitations. Home businesses, already at somewhat of a disadvantage compared to the big guys, can benefit immensely from a well-designed and well-executed website.

The first thing that home business owners should know is that despite the variety of easy-to-use web-designing tools and software that are out there, they should not attempt to do it on their own. Unless of course, the business owner has a strong creative and graphic design background that can be applied to their website. Otherwise, business owners should seek the help of a qualified professional designer. It will save and make them money over the long run, without a doubt.

There are a few good reasons for this:

1. Most web-design software, like Microsoft FrontPage, use bland, generic templates and stock graphics to compose the website. Nothing kills the effectiveness of a website more than its looking just like hundreds of other sites on the web.

2. Most web-design software utilize jazzy applets, javascript, and Flash media to "liven up" the user's site. These elements can be overused, to a fault. The result is usually a site that's overloaded with flashy animations, graphics, and sound that do little more than annoy or turn off the visitor. Multimedia applications need to be utilized effectively on websites with balance and restraint. Furthermore, these "jazzy" elements need to have a real purpose. One that's beyond just trying to jazz up the site and woo the visitor. Only a good experienced designer can achieve that kind of balance.

3. Most amateur-designed, "DIY" (Do-it-yourself) websites look just that, amateurish. Horrifically unprofessional. Nobody likes to visit a poorly designed and/or ineffective website. The most important thing about your home business to prospective customers is your image and professional demeanor. Having an amateurish website is a sure way to blow that professionalism right out of the water with one glance of your site.

4. Most websites designed by home business owners turn out to be little more than "brochureware". These brochureware sites are usually ineffective because their mission and purpose

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