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7 Reasons Your Small Business Needs a Web Site
by Keita Del Valle
Published on this site: January 25th, 2006 - See
more articles from this month
Still not convinced a web site would benefit your small business?
Here are 7 reasons to start building your internet presence.
- Plenty of space
It can be hard to choose what to say in your limited-space
print ads. One benefit of having a web site is that you
have enough space to market all your services, announce
events, display product photos, show maps and directions,
list staff education and credentials, post client testimonials
and industry awards—-anything you feel will help potential
customers make an informed decision.
- Available 24/7
Another web site advantage is that it's available even when
your business is closed or no one is available to answer
your phone. You can encourage callers who've missed you
to visit your web site for more information while they wait
for your return call.
- Easy to update
Printed material, while still very necessary, can be expensive
and troublesome to keep updated. With a web site you can
easily let the public know of changes to your hours of operation,
product or service offerings, business address or phone
number, staff, etc.
- Adds credibility
A well-thought-out, professionally designed web site can
add credibility to your small business—no matter how
young or small your business is. A web site can also convey
a sense of stability, especially important if your small
business operates without a storefront; potential customers
will feel reassured that they could contact you if they lost your
information.
- Great word-of-mouth marketing
Another great reason for a web site (that is often overlooked!)
is that's it's easy for someone to share your web site address
with a friend in an email, a phone conversation or a meeting
where none of your brochures or business cards are available.
- Can add value
Your web site can become a valuable resource to potential
and current customers. Post information on how to care for
products you sell, referrals to related services, interesting
facts, how-to's, tips, trends, mistakes to avoid or a glossary
of industry terms.
- Stay ahead of or keep up with competition
People use the internet to research everything from furniture
to limousine service to preschools. If your competitor has
a web site listed in their print ad and you don't, those
online savvy people may check out your competitor's offerings
first. That's especially true if you advertise in online
"Yellow-Page"-style directories and don't have
a web site. Hello!--your target customer is already online!
If your competitor is just a click away, who do you think
will get the first opportunity to serve that customer?
Keita Del Valle is the owner of Crafty Pixel, a freelance
web site design and consulting business in Corona, CA. For
more web site design news, articles and blog posts, visit
www.craftypixel.com
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