This question might not be the first business decision you make but it is a question that will come up repeatedly. When thinking about a business website, folks often think… Does a website really bring more clients to my business? I don’t have any online products for sale, so why would a website be cost effective? Trying to weigh if a website is necessary and worth all the trouble can be a tough decision. I have a few ideas that might help you make this decision.
A website has taken the place of the business card, newspaper ad or even television spot. A website can be one of the most economical and relevant business marketing tools you could ever use for your business. I think of a web site as a storefront for your business. It is a window into what you are about and the service you are selling. On a website, you can convey exactly how the viewer perceives your business with a well crafted message. Here is a great article from Forbes Magazine about why websites are vital to small businesses.
There are so many upsides to having a website, I have made a short concise list:
1. Accessibility: This little bugger is available for your potential customers 24/7. Folks can peruse until their heart’s content while you are getting some Zzz’s.
2. Cost Effective: If you put the cost of a good website up against a tv or radio ad campaign, you would be astounded at the value. But don’t take my word for it, do the homework. The platform of a website can be used for so many low cost marketing techniques such as video, printable takeaways for customers and various education resources.
3. Target Audience: A website is dialed into your target audience from the color, images and text content. It is specifically designed to lure your customer to support your endeavor. But more importantly, a website’s span reaches worldwide rather than contained to a particular geographical area. Truly, the sky’s the limit in reaching your target audience.
4. Credibility:By having a well designed website you can garner instant credibility. It will gives you a voice to demonstrate how unique you are from other businesses. You can provide the ultimate proof that you are legit!
5. Social Media: Even if you push information out to your customers via social media, you are still not getting the most possible traction. I consider social media to be the bait but your website is the hook so you can reel customers into buying into your business. I do love metaphors.
6. Analysis: If you are a geek like me, you want to know how much market proliferation your site gets. In other words, are people visiting your site and where are they from. Analytics from your site traffic can be reviewed and accessed to discern many important facts such as: What is the age and gender of your site visitors as well as what part of the planet they are viewing your site from. How long are folks staying on your site and which pages are they viewing the most. What time is most of the traffic visiting your site. A good web designer/developer can really help you use this information to drill down what is working best for your business and website. The number crunching is endless!
Ultimately, the need for a business website is solely dependent upon the type of business and your chosen mechanism for reaching your customer. No one can guarantee a website will increase your revenue, if they do I have waterhole in the Sahara for sale. A website makes an owner consider how they want their business to be perceived and how to go about presenting product and services. If anything else an effective website is a picture window drawing the masses into your business. So get going!