Why you Should Have a Website

If one more person asks you, “what’s your website address?” you can politely tell them, www.i_dont_have_one.com. After all, building a website is not on your list of priorities and with all of the costs of doing business, why should you spend money on a website when you don’t “need one?”
As the owner of a website design company in Tampa Bay, I can give you 10 Reasons Why You Should Have a Website:
1. Marketing
A website is a great way to compliment your existing marketing strategy and when compared to radio commercials, tv ads, billboards and even the yellow pages, nothing is as economical and versatile as your website. In the United States there are more than 220 million internet users; developing a website that will enable you to reach this market-share should be part of any businesses’ marketing plan.
2. Educational
People want to know what you can do for them and what you have done for others. More and more consumers use the internet to get information about products and services so include testimonials from other satisfied customers; provide background information about personnel, give some history about your company or post some photos. People like doing business with people they know and trust, so make your website informative and educational and you maybe surprised at the results.
3. 24/7 Access
Customers shop and compare prices now more than ever before and the internet offers a powerful, quick and efficient way to do so. If your competition is online, you should be there also. Your customers can go online 24 hours a day, seven days a week to get answers and information about your business.
4. Resource
Your website gives customers and potential customers all the information about your business they need. This can include a map (if you have a bricks and mortar location), your hours of operation, contact information (phone, fax, email) etc… Customers will have an immediate resource with important information about you business.
5. Interaction with Customers
Your best customers are repeat and referred customers and there is no better way to interact with new and potential customers than keeping in touch with them online. Through your website you can post a newsletter, take a polls or surveys and promote special deals. When you keep in contact it shows customers you care and will keep you “top of mind.”
6. Instant Legitimacy
As a customer you want to know the company you are buying from is legitimate and runs a reputable business. A well designed website lends legitimacy to your business and can lead to increased sales.
7. Marketing research
The web is interactive and can provide valuable information about what your customers want and need. To get a handle on your potential customer base you can set up a survey to figure out exactly what visitors are interested in. By finding out what they are looking for you can also learn what new trends are on the horizon. This marketing research will help you efficiently grow your business.
8. Level the Playing Field
Look and act bigger than you really are. Every big business has a website and every small business should too! A well designed website presents a more professional image than a larger competitor whose web presence appears weak or amateurish.
9. It is Lucrative
If you develop an effective online marketing strategy, your website will bring in new business and new customers that you may not have acquired through other traditional advertising strategies.
10. Customers Expect It
Isn’t this where we started? In today's business world, the internet is the way we do business and without a web presence, your business risks never being found by prospective customers.
Now that you understand why you should have a website, your next step it to determine what you want your website to achieve and then get to building! Questions? Just send me an email and I’ll be happy to help provide you with a variety of website design services!