Does Your Business Need a Website?

Even today many small businesses still don't have an Internet presence i.e. a website.

Most small business owners don't see the need for a websites as their customers are local, and they already know them, and they don't appreciate what a website can really do for their business.

It maybe true that some businesses can, and will thrive without a website, but there are many that won't, and there are probably even many more that will thrive because of their Internet presence!

Being a Small Business is No Reason Why Not! It May Even be the Reason Why!

If you have a small business where do you get new customers from ? For most businesses it will probably be local advertising and/or the local yellow pages.

 If this is you then you will eventually need your own website- and here is Why?

• A website is cheaper than the Yellow Pages (typically around$100/month for a 1" space ad) and you can change it when you want.

• It is cheaper than local advertising.( typically-$10-$30 per column inch per insertion)

• You can use it to interact with your customers.

• You can supply much more information to your customers than through either other methods.

• You can use it to accept email orders.

• Reduced running costs- If your business needs to produce brochures or any kind of sales literature it is cheaper to have the customer download it to his machine and print it then you to produce a brochure which you then send to him/her.
   As an example I do a few road races each year and the running club would have to send application forms by post to all entrants ( 500 * 30 pence for a stamp= £15) plus the time of a person to do it all for one race-they organise several per year.
  Now you connect to their website print it, then send it to them. It is only a matter of time before I fill it out online, and then save my own stamp.

• You can use it to attract customers from outside you local area.

Comparing this to the cost of running a website (typically $100-$300) per year then it is by far the cheapest option available besides being the most flexible.

Small Business and The Search Engines

Currently people search for local businesses using the yellow pages or the  classifieds in their regional paper.  All major search engines are currently adding local search facilities (march 2005) and it is only a matter of time before they become extensively used for finding small businesses.

It is very difficult to say with any degree of accuracy when local search via the Internet will overtake the yellow pages and classifieds, but it is almost inevitable that it will.

For those who are convinced they need a website then Small Business websites will take you through the process of making your own business site.

 If you are convinced that you need a website but would like someone else to build it then take a look at Websites For Business Owners.

Small Businesses and Email Marketing

Many small businesses are missing out completely on email marketing, unaware that s probably the most inexpensive and effective form of marketing available.

Although it is possible to use email marketing without a website it is far more effective when used in conjunction with one.

Reference articles and sites:

• www.bricklin.com/smallbusiness.htm
• www.smallbusinessnewz.com/
• www.inc.com/criticalnews/articles/200412/onlinesales.html
• www.sba.gov/
• www.ecommercetimes.com/story/13551.html
• www.restaurant.org/