10 Key Reasons Why Every Small to Midsized Business Should Have a Web Site
After 12 years in web site design, I am still surprised at how many people don’t know this. I get a few clients that come to me saying “I know I need a site because…”, but I still get a lot of people saying they are not sure they really need a web site. Well after 12 years, I still beg to differ; and whether you work from your home, or have a brick and mortar location, here are 10 good reasons why you need a web site for your business:
1. Inform 24/7
You’re not awake 24/7; so how do you expect to be available for your clients 24/7? You can’t be; especially if you’re a one person small business just getting started. But with a web site you CAN be available 24/7. Your web site acts as the face to your business when you’re not available. Through pictures and text you can tell people about your business, your product or service and answer 90% of the questions your potential clients might have which would allow you to get some sleep and allow them to make an educated decision about using your company.
2. Establish Brand
One of the most important things you can do is create a name for yourself. You do this by establishing your brand. Your brand is how people will find you, talk about you, and remember you. Surprisingly, a web site is one of the lesser expensive of the evils in brand recognition.
3. Less Expensive Advertising
Through proper planning and research you can increase your visibility online through search engine optimization, link exchange, and Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising. Combined you can canvas a pretty large targeted market. This starts with a properly designed web site and market research. But online marketing with a web site can be a lot less expansive and provide a quicker response than most offline marketing practices.
4. Increase Sales
You can’t sell your product or service while you’re sleeping. But a web site with an e-commerce system can do that for you. And believe it or not, more and more people are turning to the Internet to make their purchases. And they do it when it’s convenient for them; which is not necessarily during your business hours.
5. Expand Your Market
You’re a small business remember? You don’t have a franchise in every city in America, or in every country. But a web site is global. If you are selling something other than a service that has to remain local, then a web site will help you expand the boundaries of your normally restricted local market.
6. Provide Better Customer Service
Are you fielding support questions on the phone when you should be selling? What about after hours – Are you paying someone to field questions or even just answer the phone? With a web site, you can offer any-hour support for you product or service. A well produced Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section, or data center can handle most of your support questions so you can focus on selling and less on hands-on support.
7. Compete With the Bigger Boys
Some of the most successful online companies started in a garage or dorm room. The thing that set them apart and allowed them to compete with the big players in their markets was a professional looking web site. You may be a one man band, but online you can look like an orchestra. Your challenge is to sound (act) like an orchestra.
8. Networking
Networking allows you to communicate and link up with complimentary companies. Companies whose product or services compliment yours without competing with you. Through your web site you can share that compatibility and increase sales for you and your networking buddies.
9. Increase and Simplify Communications
Communication covers a really broad arena. A web site blog can allow you to establish yourself as an expert in your market. An online project or tracking system associated with your web site can help you to share information with an outside sales team or sub-contractors; which allows them to check for updates on their time. For example, I work with programmers in Malaysia, designers on the East Coast, and writers on the West Coast. They don’t have to change their schedule or me adjust mine to be able to communicate effectively and with everyone.
10. Test Your Market
Do you have a new idea? Not sure if you should invest in a large amount of inventory? A web site allows you to test a new product in your market. A bit of effort and a small amount of capital (a lot less than stocking up on an unsure inventory) would allow you to test a new product in your already established market before taking the leap of bringing it in house to your physical location.
