Best Options for Managing a Small Business Website
Small business owners know they need a website to succeed today. But once the site launches, it’s hard to find the time to give it the attention it deserves. As the business owner, you ultimately own the website, but who is responsible for day-to-day content changes and software updates? You may have tried to wear the webmaster hat for a while, but most owners quickly find the web takes a backseat to the hundreds of other to-dos competing for your attention.
Multiple Options: What’s Right for You?
Most small-to-mid-sized businesses go one of these three routes — and each option has its unique pros and cons.
Option One: Your I.T. Specialist
Some small businesses have an internal employee dedicated to all things I.T., or they outsource with an I.T. consultant. It may be tempting to ask your I.T. expert to manage your site, here are the pros and cons to that arrangement.
Pros:
With an area of expertise in hardware and software, your on-staff I.T. specialists or an outsourced consultant will be helpful when it comes to domain and hosting issues and will keep the uptime of your site a top priority.
Cons:
I.T. rarely knows anything about online marketing, or general sales, advertising, and marketing for that matter. With your main website goals typically revolving around leads and downstream revenue, it makes sense to put someone at the helm more focused on making sure your site is part of your sales pipeline.
Option Two: Hire a Dedicated Employee
What about hiring a website manager who works for your company and makes your site their number one priority?
Pros:
A dedicated website manager will stay on top of the never-ending website to-do list. From making copy changes to adding new campaign landing pages, you’ll know your site is getting the attention it deserves from someone who’s only job is to promote your company.
Cons:
Finding someone with all the skills you need — both marketing and technical — isn’t as easy as it seems. And when you consider the fully-loaded cost of another employee (salary plus benefits), it might be more than most small businesses can take on — especially if managing the site isn’t technically 40 hours worth of work a week.
Option Three:
Partner with a Digital or Web Agency
Pros:
With an agency comes a team of experts in everything from design and development to digital marketing, search engine optimization, content writing, and hosting. They’ll be able to tackle your wish list with ease and deliver solutions based on best practices. And best of all, they’ll deliver a strategy that gets you where you want to go long-term. .
Cons:
Depending on the agency, you might not get the responsive service you need. Putting your requests into a queue and not knowing when they’ll be made make it hard to plan campaigns and keep your site up-to-date.
The Right Agency Delivers it All
Most small businesses get the most return on investment from working with a web design agency. The key is selecting the right agency — one who will make your company a priority and delivers cross-discipline expertise. All without a price tag that breaks the bank. inConcert Web Solutions works with small-and-mid-sized businesses across New England to build their website and provide ongoing website management services. We’re truly part of your team, delivering responsive service and expert guidance. Contact us to learn more about why inConcert Web Solutions is the right agency for you.
Receive curated tips and practical guidance to improve your digital presence and build your brand.