Website

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DOES YOUR BUSINESS NEED A WEBSITE?

As a small business owner, you are probably caught up in the hype about making sure that your customers can find you on the Internet. You have heard stories about people who have increased their business dramatically and wonder if a website would do the same for your business.

Before you make the commitment to place your business in cyberspace, here are a few questions you may want to ask yourself:

Why do I feel that I need a website?

Think about this question seriously. I had one client tell me that he wanted a website because he was a "technology-type of guy". That told me that he enjoyed using technology to grow his business. But is that enough of a reason to have a website?

I have a small business and the Internet levels the playing field between large and small companies.

This is true. Owning a website requires a minimal investment of money. Some places are even willing to host your site free. Anyone can put up a storefront on the Internet. And with the right exposure, you can attract as many, if not more potential customers than a large company.

My business will appear to be a serious player if I have a website.

Very true. Having www.yourname.com and an e-mail address is becoming the norm. Having a website with your business name gives you the status of being a serious businessperson.

The Internet will give my business more exposure.

Maybe. The Internet, by itself, will give your business less exposure than the shingle that you hang on our place of business. There are many factors involved in getting "a million hits a day". You still have to plan the strategy of getting the word out about your website.

All of these are good reasons for having a website. The one thing to remember is – the Internet is another advertising vehicle that can be used to attract new customers while retaining your current customers.
Who are my customers?

This is the age-old marketing plan question. You need to know who is your average customer when you plan your website. The better question is – do my customers have access to the Internet? If they do, what percent? Will they use the Internet to access my site?

Despite what you hear, the average website does not get a million hits a day, not even close. And even if you could attract that many hits a month, would these be customers, potential customers, or surfers just checking you out. Which brings up the next question.
Why would they use my website?

When you can answer this question, then you will have the focus or purpose for your website. You may want to use your website as an electronic brochure. That's an excellent way to reach new or potential customers. You are thinking of your website as an alternative to the yellow pages or classified ads.

You want to keep your current customers informed. The web is an excellent place to spotlight activities that your company provides. If you conduct classes on a regular basis, you can post your schedule on your website. Consumer education is hot. Write an article once a month on an issue or concern that your customers may have. If you can give them an answer that will bring them into your store, so much the better.

You can also use your Website to tap into customers who are out of your area. Virtual malls are springing up all over the Internet. There is no reason why you shouldn't take advantage of this new storefront. You may not turn into an AMAZON.COM, but you may pick up a few sales.
Am I looking for more customers?

You can attract new customers through the Internet. If you are a local company, the Internet gives you the opportunity to sell all over the county, all over the world. It doesn't matter if your target audience is large or small, global or local. Once you put up a website and start posting your Internet address, you can expect visitors.
Am I willing to invest in a website?

There are different ways to look at investing in a Website. First, from the financial view, you must buy your name and space on a host server. This can run several hundred dollars. For your money you have – a name and a space – but no real website.

Now you need to create your home page. You can do this yourself or hire someone to do it. If you like to be creative, you may want to try to design your own website. If you're pressed for time, you may want to just hire someone to create it for you. Creating a website can start at $50/page for simple text and minimal graphics and go up to…I'm not going to quote a ceiling for this type of work. The more sizzle you want, the more you will pay.

After you publish your website, get your address out, and people start visiting the site, it's not over. Most people will revisit a site if they feel that your site is worth the trip back. If nothing has changed since their last visit, they may never come back again.

Go back to question #3 and come up with ways that would entice your visitors or potential customers to come back again and again. When you are offering your visitors a good reason to return, they will, and they'll e-mail their friends who will e-mail their friends.

So now that you know, the question remains – does your business need a website?

T. L. Creations is a leader in technology based solutions. E-mail us to discover how a website can benefit your business. Mention this article and receive a 10% discount on the setup fee of your website.