Too often, having a Web site built turns into a nightmare of additions here, tweaks there and eventual rejection of work done so far. You and your developer go back to drawing board feeling resentful and angry -- and you may feel a lot poorer.

I suggest that you get clear away from your computer and sit down with pen and paper. Write a business plan then after you have a clear goal and clear objectives in mind, go to a site such as Morebusiness.com , that have business plan forms and put it in writing there.

Sites such as HowtoAdvice.com offer sound advice on how to start any business. Download some free ebooks written by established internet marketers and read them. There is some powerful information in them that can save you a lot of money and a lot of time. The small business administration is another good source of information on doing business both online and offline. You can read their startup guide online at Empowerment Zone .

One must decide where they are going before they can get there. It is important to do planning *before* you even begin to build your site. If you want to go to Seattle don't get on a plane for San Francisco.

This does not mean you should not provide a lot of information. Just do not provide it all on one page. Each page should contain approximately 50 per cent less text than a printed version of same information.

If you have a lot of copy on your web site, try to have only 4-6 sentences per paragraph. Split page up into different topics, with subject title close to accompanying text.

3. Repetition – each page of your web site should look like it belongs to same web site, same company and same concept. For example, navigation buttons, colors, style, illustrations, format, layout can all be part of repetition that unifies entire site.

4. Contrast – this is what draws you into page and pulls you in. Pages that just have all text and no graphics, or vice versa and have no contrast can be very boring (unless it is an article or book). If elements on your page, such as type, rules, graphics, color, texture, are not same, make them very different.

Be aware of what you want visitor to focus on. What will be first thing that a person will be attracted to when that person first enters your site? If your site is not well organized, it will be difficult for your visitor to find what he is looking for.

5. Graphics – graphics should be used to illustrate benefit of your product (this is why there is popular saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words"). You should use them to enhance experience of your visitor. If it does not have a clear purpose to be there (other than just to have a pretty picture on your site), don't use it.

6. Spelling and Grammar – bad spelling and grammar can destroy professional effect of your web site. Don't just use spell checker for correcting your copy. Read through it yourself several times or get a friend who is a proficient proof reader to check your work, before you launch your site for world to see.

With a clear purpose and layout to your web pages, your visitors will easily find information they are seeking, rather than your competitors. Doing this, will help to increase sales from your web site.