August 2007

Article Tools

How to build your Web site

More than half of chiropractic practices have Web pages, and that number is growing daily.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, 78 percent of small businesses use the Web to reach new and potential customers, and many consumers use the Web to find health information.

So there are plenty of reasons to create a Web site for your practice. How do you go about it? Let’s take this step-by-step.

SITE STRUCTURE

First, plan your Web site. What is your main purpose in setting up this site? Be clear about your purpose and what you want to say. Your home page should be a window into what your practice is about, and anyone looking at it should be able to understand your unique selling proposition (USP) immediately.

Determine the structure of your site. It doesn’t have to be large, but each page should have a purpose. Here’s a typical structure:

• Home page. Give people the most vital information about your practice (your USP) and the basic information to get people to make an appointment (such as your hours, a brief description of your services, whether you take credit cards, and a picture of your office).

• About us. This page tells about the doctor and the staff, including credentials and often personal information. Include photos here. People like to see and get to know the staff.

• About our practice. This tab describes your mission and the types of techniques and services in more detail.

• Appointments and directions to the office. Some practices include a way to make appointments online, while others include all the first visit forms so the person can print them, fill them out, and bring them to the first visit.

You might also want to include general information about chiropractic and links to other sites. Be sure these links don’t contain negative information about chiropractic.

After you have decided on the basic structure of your Web site, you’ll need to find someone to design it

Some people may charge a lot of money to design your Web site, but you can find someone local to do it for a reasonable cost. Costs for setting up a Web site can range from $200 to $800. Some companies specialize in chiropractic Web sites, but it really doesn’t make a difference. Find someone who is easy to work with and who is willing to create the site YOU want.

GETTING ON THE WEB

To get your site on the Internet, here’s what you will need:

• A domain name. This is the “.com” name for your site. You will need to find a name that isn’t already being used by someone else and pay a yearly fee for registering this name.

If you want an inexpensive domain name, try “godaddy.com” or “1and1.com.” The cost will be less than $30 a year. Try to stay with a “.com” name rather than “.net” or other names, since most people are familiar with the “.com” designation and might be confused if you used something else.

• A Web host. A Web host is basically a server (a computer that has a lot of space and is always on) that will store your site. The most important thing to look for is dependability; you don’t want a server that “goes down” periodically. As with domain registers, you can find many inexpensive hosts. Yearly hosting costs as little as $50.

MAINTENANCE

After your site is up and running, you will need someone to maintain it and make changes — in other words, a Webmaster. Many Web designers will also maintain your site.

Finally, when you’re designing your Web site, work on the “KISS” principle (Keep It Short and Simple). Avoid flashy stuff, complicated Web elements, and difficult-to-download graphics; these frustrate people and cause them to leave your site.

A simple Web site can be an effective way to draw people to your practice.

Comments

Be the first to comment on this Article

Post Your Comment

Name

Location

Comment

To submit your comment, please type the security word shown in the picture.

.

Remember information

Back to the Marketing Resource Center