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GET YOUR BUSINESS ON THE INTERNET & GENERATE NEW OPPORTUNITIES
Five Reasons to Have a Web Presence Now!
Today, consumers across all age brackets use the Internet and, particularly for computer-savvy users, the Internet is the first place they’ll turn for information about a vendor.
The Internet offers an opportunity to introduce yourself to consumers exactly when they are searching for your business—by appearing in the major search engines. For niche businesses, the Web presents an opportunity to reach the nationwide or global community, where geographic limitations might otherwise force you out of business.
218,302,574 Potential Customers
71% of the U.S. population (Nielsen NetRatings, March 2008) have Internet access. So a Web site can be as much about customer service as it is about selling products and services. It allows you to be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Look Like a Serious Business
A professional Web presence helps potential customers take your business seriously. It gives some credibility, more than just somebody on the phone or sending you a mailer about your product or service.
Clearly there are numerous reasons why even the smallest of businesses can benefit from a Web presence, but here are five key considerations:
1. Visibility: With more and more consumers logging onto the Web to research products and services, if they are going to find your business, your business needs to be on the Web.
2. Reach: With a Web site, you are no longer limited to a customer base that is in physical proximity to your shop. Your place of business may be in Boston, but your customers can be in Bangkok.
3. Customer service: When customers can log onto your Web site and easily find the information they want—when they want it—their satisfaction increases.
4. Competition: A professional looking Web site can level the playing field for smaller companies trying to compete against larger enterprises. It’s also a way to stay in the game; even if people can’t find you on the Web chances are they can find your competitors.
5. Credibility: When you can point customers, partners, even potential employees or investors to a Web site, it tells them you are a serious business.
Getting Your Business on the Web
At one time having a Web site would have been out of reach for many small businesses, with the cost of hiring programmers, designers and writers and paying for hosting services and the time commitment involved in keeping the site updated.
Another concern that makes some small businesses reluctant to make the move to the Web is the need to put up a site with lots of different pages. But a Web site today can be a work in progress. At the very least you can start out with a “business card” Web site that contains very basic information about your company. As time and inspiration permit, you can expand the site.
There are plenty of compelling reasons why small businesses today should have a Web presence. And with today’s competitive marketplace and tough economic climate, it’s difficult to come up with a good reason not to.
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