Getting started with a website is a big first step. It takes guts, determination and a lot of smart thinking. We can help with that. This is the first in a series of five posts on getting started with a website.
The timing for a new website can be tricky. You’re faced with two opposing ideas: fast and slow. It’s tempting to dive right in and get started. It’s also tempting to sit back and slowly ponder how technology may best help you.
Fast
The web is all about speed. It’s one of the inherent advantages of the web. You can post something instantaneously. There’s no printing, no shipping, no waiting. You create it and you can post it. Instant delivery. If you want to launch a website for your organization, you could have one up today. Doing it quickly is the name of the game.
Of course you can go too fast. You can dive in too quickly and make too many mistakes. You can over-reach, over-stretch and over-commit yourself. Suddenly all that speed has turned into wasted effort.
Slow
While there’s a temptation to take advantage of the web’s speed, that can also be a trap. Slow and steady wins the race. Don’t be afraid to go slowly and test the waters. Don’t dive in and promise things you won’t be able to deliver. Figure out what works for you and your organization and what’s actually sustainable. Take time to ask the important questions. And take more time to figure out the answers.
Of course you can go too slow. You can never get around to posting your takeout menu online. You can forget about the ideas you had at the beginning and before you know it your website has lost its potential. You’ve forgotten to update for months at a time and suddenly no one cares anymore. That audience you built has disappeared.
Like most of life, balance is the key. Don’t go too quickly, but don’t poke along either. Take your time figuring out what you want to do, but then do it quickly. Don’t spend all day writing blog posts or Twitter updates, but write a few and see if you like it. Spend 20 minutes a day and see if it’s something you’ll stick with.
Don’t just be slow, be deliberate.
Don’t just be fast, be efficient.
