Name of your website?ProAssets Web Design & Consulting
Your name?
Ashley Kersh-Fletcher
Your Location (city, etc)
Peru, Indiana
Please give us a short summary of your website?
We specialize in providing professional and cost effective web development services to the small business community.
What inspired you to launch your own website?
The inspiration was to assist other small business owners achieve success online, increasing their sales and enabling them to compete in our global economy.
When did you launch your first website, and what was it?
Our first website was one geared to families raising children with spina bifida. The website contained many resources available for these families and their children and a starting point especially when a diagnosis was first learned.
How did you decide on a name for your website?
Hmm....Our first business name pretty well stunk! While attempting to get my younger sister to go into business for herself our now business name was thrown out as a possible name for hers. However, since she did not start her own business...the name was up for grabs! And who better to take it, than her own sister.
What makes it different from other, similar offerings?
I believe it is the fact that one of the main goals are to sincerely capture what the clients desires and work from there, making it better.
What is your eventual goal? (To sell it, keep it for income, secure a book or other mainstream media deal?)
Our goal is GROWTH primarily. I don't forsee selling or at least in the near future anyway. I would like to see the growth potential w/my physical eyes and continue long after I'm gone.
How does your investment of time and money balance against your success?
At this point, there is more time spent than money made. However, there is fruit being produced from the time spent and it will all be worth it. Anything worth anything, is worth fighting for.
If you had an unlimited development budget for development, how would you change your site?
Not sure that I would change the site. With an unlimited budget I would definitely be able to more effectively reach my target audience.
If your site got really big, really quickly, would you be able to keep up with the demand?
Yes because there are plans for that already in place.
What unexpected costs and headaches have you had to deal with?
The largest cost and headache has been an investment we made with another company that went south, so to speak. Alot of time was spent on this project and it was a waste of time for our business. However, it was a catalyst as well for the business.
What has been your biggest challenge?
In a nutshell....money.
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
Word of mouth.
How has running your website differed from your expectations?
Not sure.
How long have you run the site already, and how long will you continue to keep it up if you don't enjoy big gains in traffic, income or popularity?
I love what I'm doing and what do it w/o the pay irregardless. Although perhaps not as much.
What would be your most important tip for others thinking about starting their own business?
My most important tip would be to find what you are passionate about and what you would do even if you never received any compensation and go for it! If you don't particularly like what you are doing then how much more miserable will you be in 10 years doing that same thing?
And one other if I may....if you don't try, you will never know if you could have done it or not. You have to at least give it your best.
What is your website address?
ProAssets Web Design & Consulting
