7 Darn Good Reasons Your Small Business Needs A Website
Every business needs a website, I don’t care how small or menial your business is. I’m even talking about the shade tree mechanic down the street, who repairs cars under the tree in his back yard. Here are 7 darn good reasons I think you business must have a website.
1. Available 24/7. This is obvious but extremely beneficial. Studies have found that a majority of people search the internet for information to help make their purchasing decisions, even if they’re going to use a brick and mortar business. This makes your business available after closing hours and information that couldn’t be delivered over your answering machine.
2. Accessible locally as well as global. Many times when small businesses are thinking about their websites, their intent is to increase their sales territory via the web. This was true for me in the mid 90’s when I put my first web site up for my travel agency. But don’t forget about the local business. Customers in your area are searching for products and services, too. The search engines try to deliver search results based on the IP address of the searcher when they can. This means that local businesses will be displayed first in the results.
3. Flexibility with speed. A website is much easier and less expensive to change and modify specials, products and services your business offers as compared to printed brochures and catalogs. And, it can be done almost instantly. Try changing a newspaper ad or listing in a phone book once its been printed, its impossible.
4. Improved image. Come on, this is the 21st century, the internet is here to stay and you don’t have a website? Your small business website lets everyone know you’re present and accounted for in the 21st century business community.
5. Increase sales and services. An online catalogue for niche products are simple and inexpensive to set up. You can even use a drop shipper and not carry any extra inventory!
6. Instant gratification. Unfortunately, our society has digressed to this base level. Ever hear that commercial on TV by JG Edwards? “It’s my money and I want it now!” People who are looking for information are that way, too. They’re searching and they want it now. Your website can offer information about the products and services you offer when your customers are looking for it. Not when you get an extra minute or after they’ve been on hold for 15 minutes.
7. Levels the playing field. A website helps your small business compete with the Big Boys. Sure, they’ve got a big, fancy and expensive website but that’s not what people are looking for. They want your website to be functional, easy to navigate and with the information they’re looking for. And that’s not hard or expensive to do.
A website isn’t the silver bullet answer for all your marketing needs but it is a powerful tool you can use that will help grow your business.
