The Butterfly Chronicles: If you build it they will come:

As the saying goes “if you build it they will come” which can be true in most cases. When building your own website there are a few things you should consider to aim for optimal success. Take my advice, if you know nothing about web design and coding, hire someone to design your website to your exactly need and specifications. Make sure you use a reputable contractor/web design firm so that you do not waste time and money. When choosing your domain name be very selective and research your choice carefully because this name will be your online calling card. Make sure that your domain name is short, sweet and memorable. One popular site to visit and check to see if your domain name is available is www.whois.sc. This site is also a good to check who owns a particular domain that you might be interested in or domain names of your competition. Note if the domain name that you want has already has an owner, you can offer to purchase it from them.

Probably one of the most important factors in an internet company is choosing a very good web host. If your web site goes down, you are completely out of business. When searching for a web host company make sure they have secure server capabilities, fast servers, lots of space, unrestricted CGI access, SSH and FTP access, web-based administration, access to raw server logs, full email services, power and daily server backups, and no minimum contracts. Do your research and test your chosen providers technical support to see if they offer all the services, scripts, and software you need. Inquire about their downtime and how long they have been in business. Make sure you are not being charged for the extra services.

When a customer visits your website, you want them to see professionalism, fast connections and knowledgeability. If your visitors notice advertisements from your free or low cost web host server they will perceive your site to be unprofessional or small time. Slow connection speeds will definitely lose customers and cost you money—speed is king. So, choose your web host server carefully and you will be well on your way to creating a website that will attract buyers and/or visitors.

Good luck with that!