Your Presence On The Web
If I had a penny for every time I heard the phrase “what do I need a website for” from a small business owner, I’d probably have enough money to buy a gallon of gas (unleaded, of course). I have always managed to present some unrehearsed talking points in support of the importance of online presence, almost never for the sake of business for my company, but for the sake of reason.
Here are the talking-points, in polished form:
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Image: If your online presence cannot lend itself to a functional purpose such as selling your products and/or services online, then at the very least it can augment your image. A professionally assembled website can convey your professionalism to your prospective clients.
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Availability: To have information about your business, products and services available anytime, anywhere is essential. A web front does the trick.
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Savings: I rarely come across an organization that goes into business without producing literature about its products and services. Digitizing such literature and making it available online could cut down on your printing costs. A simple business card with the address of your website circled is a very good alternative to handing out brochures and flyers. Not only will you save money, you can also add this to your list of go-green deeds.
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Convenience: 90% of the time my preferred method of communication is email. To be able to submit an inquiry to a business about their products or services online is a winning proposition for many busy professionals, and that includes yours truly.
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More Savings: Your ability to field inquiries about your business through your website reduces the need for live support.
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Marketing: A website is a permanent and cost-effective marketing tool. The cost of maintenance is relatively low.
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Competition: Your competition has a website and so you must.
Nowadays, having a website for your business is just as fundamental as leasing an office or printing business cards. Some might contest the concept, but surely time will solidify its validity. The Internet is rapidly evolving; and it is more apparent to those in the web construction profession than to those who are not. These are exciting times, and the sheer size of the Web makes it ever so difficult to differentiate your presence online from that of others. Yet when you do get it right the result spells unparalleled success.
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