Web wise?

Today, I’m building my website for Spire Communications.

Some of my colleagues who’ve set up on their own haven’t seen the need for a website. I’d like to politely disagree with them. I don’t expect it to generate copious amounts of new business but I feel not to have one looks a little unprofessional. I post rationalise by saying that mostly I need it for the associated email address because I don’t think I should be out there touting for business with a yahoo or hotmail email address, it’s just not right.

When I set up my company the price included a web package and registration of a domain name. I couldn’t have exactly what I wanted but I got me a ‘.com’ domain and it sounded rather international. Last week I contacted the company to discuss my options as it all needs to be very simple - I don’t want to spend ages fiddling with it or end up having to spend a large sum of money having it artistically designed, and more than anything it needs an email address. My simple package comes with five web pages which is great, but I’m a luddite who’s never uploaded to a website before – at least not until I posted my first blog on this very site!

I’m delighted that I’ve just heard it’ll be ready to roll in a few days, so I’m here pondering what to publish. How on earth do I describe 20 years of experience in the PR industry? I think I have the basics sorted out, and with just a few pages it’s not too challenging. I’m currently thinking it should be, rather obviously, a home page with details of what I can do for clients, a contact page that will direct enquiries to my new email address and that’s the easy bit done.

It’s a bit difficult when you’re just starting out, after all there are no interesting case studies or awesome clients to profile, so can anyone offer some wisdom?

Lisa