An online presence has become an integral part of any business, no matter what field or niche they occupy. E-Commerce has skyrocketed exponentially since its inception, and there is no evidence that it will slow down anytime soon. Therefore, you will never achieve your full potential unless you have a website. Just having a website does not guarantee you instant success; in fact, it takes a lot of work and time before you start To those that have never developed a website before, the job can appear quite intimidating. Most people think that advanced design and programming skills are required for one to make their own website. While developing a website by hand from scratch is certainly an option that gives you complete control and freedom, it is not the only option. A variety of programs are available to assist you with constructing web pages, and they are easy to use even for non-tech savvy people. Of course, some time must be invested in learning how to use a program, but that is nothing compared to what it takes to learn actual coding knowledge. If you are not set on having a completely unique design, you can opt to use a template. Templates are already made designs that you just need to fill in with content. They are exportable and can be easily uploaded to a web server. With some programs, websites made from templates can be live in as little as six steps. For most online businesses, templates are acceptable. If you have special needs or are designing a website for a medium or large sized business, the custom approach should be taken. Not just any design will cut it for your business. It needs to be attractive and stimulating, so that visitors will stay and hopefully purchase something. Content needs to flow, meaning readers should be able to read pages in an organized manner. Visitors should not be jumping around from place to place in order to find what they are looking for. Menus should act as guides and take up as little space as possible. Ease of use is imperative to pleasing clients, so take care in removing any obstacles to navigation of your website. One of the most important things about your website is the color scheme. Colors define your business’s image and are critical in how customers view your company. With the wrong colors, you can make a negative impression, and many people may find your design bland and disengaging. The technology of color is more complex than most people believe. You need to consider a wide range of issues, including the fact that not all browsers share the same color palettes. When facing the decision of what color scheme to implement, it is best to consult an expert. If you simply need a website for the online presence, then stopping at one project is fine. To drastically increase sales, it is best to have a network of websites, all promoting your products or services. Websites which compliment your primary site are referred to as mini-sites, and having a good number of these kinds of sites can improve your reach and customer base. Do not get the wrong idea, though. Mini sites still need attention to detail and occasional upkeep, just not as much as your main website.