Designing a company's website

1) The aim is to create a good website and not a brochure. If you lack the expertise in-house, hire an external expert, whether big or small

2) Remain aware of whether you���re being fleeced. A beginner website can be ready in one or two weeks and shouldn���t cost you a bomb either

3) If cost is a concern, opt for a template���a ready-made format on which you can toggle colours and designs

4) If your budget is zero, you may consider opting for blogs (separate blogs for each web page) or use a free programme like Google sites

5) Ensure your website is hosted by a good web host. Else, your site may keep crashing

6) If you want a specific domain name, register it early and pay the annual fees on time so you don���t lose the domain to someone else

7) Update content regularly���don���t subject readers to the same information every time

8) Don���t copy graphics, text or visuals. Besides creating copyright issues, your website can also end up looking messy or poorly designed

9) Too many graphics also overload a site and make it slow and unwieldy. Steer clear.

10) Ensure that the site is a true reflection of your business and remains dedicated to its core principles

Dinesh Wadhawan is the managing director of Times Internet.