Having your own web site can be pretty exciting. It`s your home on the web. If you are an e-tailer, then it becomes your virtual brick and mortar on the web. However, most web site owners don`t realize what owning a site entails. Specially if you are doing it ALL yourself.

So here are 8 things you need to be (or learn how to do) to maintain your website successfully. (Notice I didn`t say “hire.” You could, however these are things you can learn easily.)

1. e-Marketing Expert-More than just defining your market target and advertising campaigns, you will need to learn how to e-market to your audience that is already on the web.  An example of a great campaign was president elect`s Barack Obama. He used all venues of communication available to him, from Twitter to YouTube, to communicate his message. The result? A successful worldwide campaign that will forever be registered in history. Should you do it? Yes, the quicker the better!
2. Accountant-This one is SOOO easy. Well, software will do this for you! Bypassing your accountant is actually possible if you use software like Intuit`s Quickbooks to keep track of sales, expenses and even payroll. Of course, I would have an accountant double check it, but this is certainly doable.
3. Data Entry-Probably the one I hate most, without data entry, there will be nothing on your site. This encompasses product entry, site and blog content entry and upkeep. Besides being time consuming, it`s boring and tidious. Someone`s got to do it and it might as well be you.
4. Shipping Department-I absolute love that commercial where a new employee is taught how to ship online and his excuse not to do it is “Yeah, I have an M.B.” There are two things you have to worry about in this department. One, presentation. When the client opens that box are they going to say “WOW! I am ordering from them again!” or “What is that oil stain from?” Two, affordability. After seeing many stores adjust their shipping fees so people will purchase their items, you have to wonder how they are doing it. Hint: The bigger the company shipping your item, the likeliness they will treat your precious shipment like, well, it`s not so precious.
   

   Package your goods so well, that they could be photographed for a magazine.

5. Purchasing Manager/Trend Researcher-If you are offering a service, trend researcher would apply to you. Keeping up with the competition means keeping a sharp eye out for all of those things that may sway markets one way over the other, not just what the competition is selling. Even being eco conscious will mean that perhaps your luxurious imported wrapping paper will be not so popular. Another example,-studied a few years back when snow boarding suddenly grew in popularity (I always thought it was popular!):)-was that accessories for a particular sport would be hot selling items if the sport`s popularity grew. Once the niche reached its saturation point, the “extras” were no longer hot and sales dwindled.
6. Social Networker- It`s a little like marketing for Web 2.0. Whether you know what Web 2.0 is or not, this is a definite most do for anyone who wants to BRAND themselves to the masses or to a niche. Networking creates your presence on the web will deter anyone wishing to “soil your good name.” This is not just an extra step, and there are many virtual assistants that offer this service.
7. SEO Expert-Search engine optimization is very important. Getting creative when writing your keywords and keeping up with the search engine algorithms can be exhausting. It`s so important, many companies offering the same service, will step on MY TOES after I set up my clients. Their downfall? I have already warned my clients about THEM!! Their latest? My client tells me they said:”Your browser title tags has 72 characters when only 70 is the maximum.” Really??? Does “information age” mean anything to anyone? When it comes to this, I would pay for someone to teach me, not to do it for me. It`s so easy, my poodle can do it. Get the info right from the source and not from a company who calls you at work (or home).


Browser Title Tags Guidelines as of Nov. 2008 Cited from Planet Ocean. "DUH!!! Your title tags are awful long! Like by two characters!"

8. Copywriter-This would be beneficial, if you can`t write to hire someone to do that for you. But if you can, copywriting is the life of your site. Content is king and you need this as much as you need oxygen. Just keep in mind that if you do decide to hire a copywriter, give her your keywords.

Honorary Mention-Photographer. If window shopping could be done on the web, it would be through your photographs. Buying a light box and being able to retouch them will allow you to have gorgeous pics without a photographer.

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