Why build a website?

If you're looking around this site you are probably at least considering setting up a website for your business.   Unfortunately, most people who start building a website, or add on to an existing site, do so without any clear set of goals or plans to reach those goals.

First, set your goals
The first thing you need to do, before even coming up with a domain, is decide what you want out of your website.  And here's the catch - 'get more business' is not a good goal.  Your goals should be measurable.

A few examples of good goals

• Create a simple way for clients to view (and order) their proofs
• Get my name in front of 100 new prospect a month
• Gain 5 new clients a month
• Make it easier for potential clients to contact me

Let's take these goals and expand a little so we know how to reach them, and how to know when we do.

Proofing
This is the easiest to quantify, so we'll start here.  Just by creating a system where you can upload image to your site and have your clients view and order you have done this.

Personally, I think this is one of the best features you can have on a photography website.  If you use online proofing you will significantly cut back on the proof magazines you have to print, although some people will still want them.  Plus it gives your clients an easy way to order.

New Prospects
To measure this you'll need to view your web statistics.  The stat you're looking for is individual visitors, and hopefully you have a stats program that will filter out robots.

New Clients
It's easy to measure new clients.  It's harder to know where they came from.  You may need to do some sort of questionnaire to know if they came through your website.

Easier to Contact
I feel that you should list as many methods of contact on your site as possible.  Phone number, email address, and a contact form; plus a street address if you have a studio.  Some people like phones, some like email.  Give 'em what they want.

Conclusion
Is this every possible reason?  Not even close. Come up with your own list and aim to meet it.

I wrote ProofBuddy   

It was written from the start to be customizable through a series of theme files. The theme files are just normal HTML, although they support PHP, that contain variables where you want the images and other items to go. 

If you want to see what can be done with the theme system..

• Proofing on my photo website
• A few user submitted screen shots of their themes
• The current list of downloadable themes

i bought a new website for a couple hundred - with a proofing system in it.
i'm very excited to say it will save me a couple hundred just for that fact alone.

my new site should be online on monday or tuesday ....

otherwise i used this picsxpress.com thing thru silvano imaging
cost about $40 just to put up a wedding for 6 months but it did suit me just fine for the past 2 years.