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I_dont_need_a_websiteDo_I
| I dont need a website!....Do I?
Once upon a time, in a small home office, a busy entrepreneur
wondered why he wasn’t quite as busy as he would like to be. “I
market my business as much as possible”, said the entrepreneur,
who has implemented many marketing procedures while running his
business.
Our entrepreneur, we’ll call him Bob, runs a computer repair
business. His services allow him to provide his clients with his
expert advise, either in their offices, by email, or on the
phone. Because of this, Bob has a large potential market, both
locally and internationally.
Bob has a great brochure, filled with all his features and
benefits; he attends as many networking events as he can; he
advertises in the local newspapers; and he has a huge ad in the
yellow pages. But, Bob doesn’t have a website. Why?
“I don’t need a website, do I?” asks Bob. “I do everything else
possible to market my business and I also get many customers by
referrals. Why would I need a website?”
Glad you asked Bob! Let’s see if we can’t outline some of the
benefits of having a website… both locally and internationally…
Your website is a live brochure that is available for anyone to
see from anywhere, no matter if they are 5 miles away or 5000
miles away.
For potential local clients, they may first find your company in
the yellow pages but, if they are looking for more information
about you and the services you offer, the Internet is one of the
first places they will look to do their research.
Many potential long distance clients may be in different time
zones or would rather not make a long distance call. Because of
these factors, the Internet is where they would go for more
information. Having a website enables your information to be
available anytime and, by including your email address on your
site, they have a cheaper and more convenient of contacting you.
Your website allows you to create and show much more of your
information than a print ad or brochure. The more information
you provide, the more likely a potential client will be to buy
from you as they can see everything they need to know. You can
even include a little something extra, such as tips and
resources, to help your clients see your dedication to providing
topnotch customer service.
Your website also allows you to be more creative in how your
present your information than with something that is in print.
You can add bells and whistles (but not too many) that show that
can be creative in your efforts.
Many people use the Internet to find out more information about
products or services that they are in need of. Your website is a
means of offering information to those who may be researching
online before buying. If you don’t have a website, how are they
going to even get a chance to see what you have to offer?
In the same respect, if a potential client has heard about you
but can’t find your business card, they may turn to the Internet
to try and locate your contact information or to learn more
about you.
Your website opens the door to a larger market of prospective
clients. Even if your service is normally only preformed
locally, there is always the potential to expand. And, you are
more likely to increase your local client base if your website
is available for them to research your service.
Even if you cater to only a specific clientele, your website can
be a place for them to visit or where they can point others to
who they are referring to you.
Your website is the one piece of marketing material that is easy
to change without a huge cost. So, if you have a special event
coming up or you want to include more information on a certain
service, you simply have your web designer make the change. And,
almost instantly, your information is fresh and visible, without
the costs of re-printing new marketing material.
We could go on and on about the benefits of having a website. In
short, having a website is the ‘way to go’ these days and, if
your company does not have a website, are you losing customers?
Are they finding your competition when using the Internet but
not you? Are they wondering why you do not have a website when
all of your competition does?
Your website is your company’s 24 hour advertising medium. Why
wouldn’t you consider having one? Bob?
About the author:
Janice Byer (CCVA, MVA) of Docu-Type Administrative & Web
Services, provides professional & creative Virtual Assistance
and Website Design. For more helpful small business and
marketing information, view her NEW Information Ebooklets; read
her ebook, Surfin' the Net - Docu-Type's Virtual Collection of
Links; sign up for her free newsletter, Virtual TidBits; and
read all of her published Articles, at http://www.docutype.net
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