Article

 

10 Reasons For Having A Website

By: Quinton Jenkins

While promoting my website design and SEO business in Leamington Spa, Warwick, Coventry and beyond, I contact many small and medium size businesses that don't have a website. Often it is the perceived cost of a website that puts them off, but more often it is the belief that no one will actualy want to contact them via the internet anyway. The same companies would'nt dream of not being in the telephone directory!! They simply don't appreciate how widely used the internet has become and how important it is to have a net presence to validate their business.

Here are my 10 reasons for a business to have a website.

Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Anytime a customer wants to know about your company or it's products, it's opening hours or location, they can get it with ease at the click of a mouse. You business will be promoted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, to the whole world.
Nothing else offers this flexibility. Your web site won't take holidays, have time off sick or ask for a pay rise.

By adding a "Frequently Asked Questions" page. Your customers can get answers to important questions before calling or emailing you.

Cost Effective

A web site is very cost effective for your business. While it won't replace your existing sales, advertising, retailing, customer support and marketing efforts, it makes all these business functions more effective. And with Ab3 Media's low monthly fee, the cost to your business is limited. Changing the information on your web site is also fast and efficient, whereas changing printed material can be costly and time consuming. Compare the cost of a small ad in a magazine (which is only available for a limited time) or the cost of printing and mailing leaflets and brochures, versus the cost of having a Web site, which is available 24 hours a day. Your customers can have the current information or price list for your goods or services at any time, just by looking at the relevant page on your website.

Improve Your Communications

A Web site is an instantly available, high-quality, interactive, full-color brochure listing all the goods and services you offer. It is a very cost effective and efficient way to communicate with not just potential customers, existing customers and suppliers.

It can be easily updated, keeping your product listings and prices always accurate and up to date. Changes take effect as soon as they're posted online and everyone can see updated information without having to wait .

Customer Expectations

Customers expect to see you on the Internet. Many people (that's customers and potential customers) prefer to search for a company on the Internet rather than search their local Yellow Pages or newspaper. It's simply the easiest and quickest way to find the contact details for your business. To many, a business that is not on the Internet, for all intents and purposes, simply doesn't exist or isn't trustworthy.

If you cannot meet this expectation then they will go to someone else. If you have no web site you have no chance to compete.

Improve your Businesses' Profile

You can build reputation, credibility and trust with potential customers. Web sites offer an ideal way of showcasing your previous work and accomplishments to potential customers, with full colour images and video. There is also a large amount of prestige to having a website. It gives people the impression that you are professional and smart enough to take your business up a level. Since a website is such a major convenience it also tells people that you are interested in sharing information with them.

Expand Your Business

The Internet takes away traditional business boundaries. When you go online people from all over the country, or even from around the world, will show up. Somebody always wants your product or service. Promoting through the internet and drawing them in will help your business grow and expand. You can replace the printing and distribution of costly printed materials and cold calling for support. You can attract a willing audience to your website and impress them with your message once they arrive.

Improve you Competitive Advantage

Using the internet all companies play by the same rules. No matter what your size, a website offers your business the same advantage as your biggest competitors. A well designed website for even a one man operation can have the same presence as a multi-national corporation.

Sell Your Goods or Services

An interactive online catalogue makes your company's products accessible everywhere in the world, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Selling on-line is a cost-effective ways to sell anything. It comes without the overheads of running a physical shop and the associated costs (utilities, supplies, maintenance, etc.).

With monthly fees from just £15 per month for hosting your site, keeping it secure, sales transactions, monthly updates, email and more, the costs of running an online shop are predictably low.

Specialised Markets

If you have a specialty product or service and your business is within a limited geographic area, then you may be wasting a lot of time and money promoting your business to an audience that is largely uninterested. With your own website and email you have access to the special interest groups that are on the Internet for virtually any subject.
By advertising exactly where your audience is, every penny you spend immediately becomes more valuable. So when an enthusiast sees your advertisement or reads about you on a blog, they go straight to your website. Never before has attracting a specialised audience been so easy and efficient.

A Website Address Can Be Easier To Remember Than A Phone Number

The Domain name or web address of your website is most likely going to be easier to remember than the physical address of your business or your business phone number. That alone is reason enough to have a website.

 

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