I work with a number of small business owners and individuals running a "cottage industry" out of their home, and to them, the web is both a dream-come-true and a nightmare all at once. It's a dream because the web allows you to (theoretically) present your business with the same level of professionalism that larger companies can afford. However, the nightmare stems from a number of myths that I will address in this article.
MYTH #1: "I don't need to learn anything new to have a web site."
You do need to learn some of the technicalities, the level of which depending on whether you are personally managing your web site or are having someone else do it for you. For a web site to work for your company, you need to have some understanding of how the technology works and how to use that technology to your advantage. At the very least, you should understand the concepts involved in how your web site is stored on the server, how it can be accessed, how to update your web site using FTP software, and how to get people to visit your site. Most ISPs that host web sites will have some sort of document for you. Make sure you read this document!!
Additionally, I recommend a very useful book, published by O'Reilly -- The Whole Internet: The Next Generation. This book is comprehensive, easy to read, and great for both beginning and advanced users. If you're interested in getting your business online, but aren't familiar with the technicalities, this book will help.
MYTH #2: "Having a web site is cheap."
Relatively speaking, yes, having a web site is pretty inexpensive when you compare it to regular advertising costs, office management costs, and the like. But too often, people tend to think of "cheap" as "free." In reality, publishing a web site will cost you money--anywhere from a few-hundred to a few thousand-dollars, depending on the level of complexity you want in your site. The overall cost can include software and hardware you may need to purchase to build/manage your site, labor charges (if you're paying someone to build the site for you), ISP charges, and domain name registration.
