Do you already have a website? Are you making few sales or getting few bookings even though you are getting plenty of visitors? To use jargon, is your "conversion rate" low?

• An out-of-date looking website can give the impression that your business is no longer running.
• A poorly-designed website can convey the impression that you are trying to make quick money.
• A website that is difficult to use or navigate, and whose pages load slowly, will put visitors off - the average attention span of website visitors is notoriously low!
• A website that is difficult to find on search engines, especially Google, for at least some relatively popular and relevant search terms, will generally get few visitors in the first place!

There are many considerations when building a website that have to be taken into account. These are easily overlooked, and failure to carry out vital behind-the-scenes work can mean website failure and, sometimes, business failure. There is far more to a website than just an elegant design.

It can be a formidable task to plan a website from scratch - not only are there a lot of technical considerations, but also how to present and structure the information for your visitors. If you need, I shall "hold your hand" throughout the entire process so that you get a website which works without having to figure everything out by yourself.

Your website must:

1. Engender trust
2. Look attractive
3. Be informative
4. Be easily navigable
5. Be up to date
6. Be readable
7. Make it easy to contact you / make a booking or purchase

I have been providing web design services for many small businesses on Skye over the last few years, mainly self catering websites, but also for bed and breakfast and hotel accommodation. I have considerable experience in providing websites which actually work - which bring in bookings, rather than just a pretty design.

When I build a new website, I also make sure that it is built to be search engine friendly from the outset (in technical jargon, properly written title and meta description tags, correct HTML markup and search engine friendly URLs). I always consider the issue of how people are going to find your website, as it is no use having a website that potential clients (who do not already know of you) cannot find! A lot of the work which goes into my websites is "under the hood" and "behind the scenes" - to make sure that they really do work well for you and bring you business.

I recognise that you may need to get your website up and running quickly. Therefore I usually try to get a fully functioning home page within a few days, and build the rest of the website as you provide me with the relevant text and pictures, etc.

"Alasdair provided a website for us last year, and also assisted us in advertising it, all at a very reasonable cost. Within weeks we were inundated with bookings, and found we were having to pass on bookings to neighbours."

Angus and Ena McPhie, owners, Willowbank Bed and Breakfast, Portree, May 2008

"Alasdair has designed my Self Catering Website and I found the service to be extremely efficient, accurate and timely. He monitors the website on a regular basis and keeps me informed of any updates he thinks would be beneficial.

He has given me the benefit of his experience and extensive knowledge on website design. Alasdair explains all the requirements in a manner that I can understand which I find invaluable when deciding on additions and updates.

I have received all my enquires for my business via this website and I am very satisfied with the level of bookings for this summer.

I have received a number of compliments from guests regarding the website.

I strongly recommend his website design services"

Seonag MacCaskill, owner, Manish Self Catering, Carbost, June 2009