Building professional websites since 1997

If You're in Business, You Do Need a Website

I hear a lot of small and medium-sized business owners say, "I don't need a website!"

I chuckle.

No, you don't need a website...if:

• you don't want to stay in business much longer,
• don't want new clients,
• and do want your competition to encroach on your existing customer base and market share.

"I Only Sell Locally and Advertise in the Yellow Pages"

Looked in the Yellow Pages lately?

Can you find who or what you're looking for?

Probably not—not with all the advertising eating up column space that used to hold neat, orderly, alphabetized names of businesses, services, and products. What the Yellow Pages now lack is what they are supposed to provide: an organized directory structure. And the white pages often don't list the service someone might be seeking, at least not in any recognizable form. Guess where the most organized, comprehensive directory structure now exists? That's right. On the Internet. And guess where folks go in hopes of getting the latest, up-to-date information. Yup. The Internet.

Word-of-Mouth Advertising is Still Best

Fact: Word of mouth is and will probably always be the cheapest, most effective and profitable way of getting new clients and customers. After that, most folks who don't have a word-of-mouth referral from someone else now go to the Internet to try to find who and what they're looking for. Even when they're shopping for a local retail outlet for the product they wish to purchase or when they're seeking a service, it's the Internet they tap for information. If you, your product, service, or business aren't there or aren't there effectively, those potential clients and customers aren't going to phone you or walk through your door.

First Contact is Imperative, Especially for Service Industries

First contact is critical for any business, but especially for service industries. More and more, potential clients and customers are researching before they make that first phone call or visit. One of the places they do their most comprehensive research is on the Internet using the major directories and search engines, especially Google. If you aren't there, you get missed. If you're there, but your presentation isn't convincing enough for that potential client or customer to pick up the phone and call, click on an email link, or fill out a contact form, you're losing a valuable opportunity. Online estimates or contact forms that allow a potential customer to easily request information can often mean the difference between gaining and losing business. Without cultivating those opportunities, you're jeopardizing your bottom line by losing that all important first contact opportunity.

Quick Response is Critical

On the Internet, first contact comes with a labor-intensive price. The success of first contact often depends on easy access and lightning quick response to the client's questions. What goes hand-in-hand with a web presence is that you, the business owner, must insure that somebody qualified is responding to those inquiries with lightning speed—seconds to minutes of turn-around—and responding in a conscientious and knowledgeable manner. Unless you're prepared to do that, you're better off not having any other contact information other than your phone number available on your website.

If You're in Business Today, You Can't Afford Not to Have a Website

Fact: Most people use the Internet to research products and services before they buy. Yes, even when they're looking for local retailer outlets and services. If you aren't represented there, you lose potential sales.

Fact: Many folks are buying online more and more, having the product shipped straight to their door. This is especially true where time and distance play important roles in easy access and availability. This is especially true for

• products and services that aren't immediate necessities,
• products and services that are more cheaply purchased online,
• products and services that aren't readily available locally,
• consumers who plan ahead, a life skill that is climbing, especially among those with the least time and the most disposable income.

Fact: Dollar for dollar, a website doesn't cost much for a very cost-effective advertising opportunity, and it can easily become one of your most profitable point-of-sale venues.

So, FACT: Yes, If You're in Business, You Do Need a Website

And you can have one.

Prices start at $769 for a solid business presence and only $1049 for an owner/operator content-managed website. Both of these very reasonably priced options include a domain and one year of hosting and maintenance and include search engine optimization and search engine submission.