Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I`ve written my business plan, my marketing plan, even have clients (although I`m not `officially` in business yet)...however, I`m stuck with web design. I revised a website for a friend, but am having a hard time doing my own. Quite frankly I`m petrified because it is MY image. The company will bear my name.  

My  question is...how did you decide on your logo and website design? How did you know it was `IT`? 

For my business, my website will be one of my main marketing tools, so it is important that if convey the right image.  However, I think I have stressed over it so much that now it has become the big Goliath. Any suggestions?


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http://www.homeberries.com.com
Motivate Kindness

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Web Design | Best Beef Jerky | ecommerce articles | Follow vwebworld on Twitter

I have to echo JENB,
it was all trial and error and learned from my mistakes. It took me about 14 logo designs, 14 different business cards "thank god for cheap vista print business cards". After 6 months trials and about 14 ifferent business cards, I just knew I needed to brand the company, and I had to make it stand out from the rest. After, I knew what my services were going to be, I decided to work on my site, which at the time "I can say that I was all over the place" 4 years later I know exactly what I offer and from my services, I was able to come up with something that works for me.
I created my web site in a SEF "search engine friendly" architecture where I am currently spending $6.95 per month on Google Ad-words and currently ranking high on the search engines. As a matter a fact my web site started ranking 6 hours after I finished the web site and submitted it to Google, MSN, and Yahoo. Currently I am viewed in 33 regions (states) and getting about 206 hits per day with a conversion rate of 40 estimates per day. Not bad for the $6.95 google charges me per month.. My bill with Ad-words last month was $1.95, I`m just paying them that so they can put me on the sponsors list.



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Edgar Monroy
Web Developer / Owner / Consultant
When starting your own business the need to "know-how" is greater than money!
http://www.nuevolution.net

LOL! This question reminds me of asking an artist, "So....how did you come up with the idea to paint that particular picture?" ;-)

Yours is a question that goes to the concept of inspiration, but there are a few commonalities that have come down over the course of history. Do some meditation on the fundamental, core "concept" of your business. You`ll know you`ve found it when you can answer the question, "What do you offer?" in about 3 words....ten at the very most.

After you have those three words, that`s when the trial-and-error part comes in. That`s also where consulting with an artist will help. What picture can you make that "speaks" those three words?

The logo will have shapes, color, pattern, and form. Those, in turn, will tend to drive the layout of the Web pages, together with the color theme. Hopefully, it will also drive the "object" theme of your site.

For example, we sell signal flags so we use nautical "stuff" as often as we can for buttons, shapes, colors, and so forth. If you sell motorcycle parts, that too would offer ideas for objects around the site. You may offer a service of some kind. Explain it in three words, and you`ll probably (hopefully) begin to come up with related shapes you can use.

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http://www.homeberries.com.com
Motivate Kindness

Thanks everyone!

Keena