WHY DO I NEED A WEBSITE?
Do I really need my own
website?
If you do not already have a website you may well be asking
yourself “do i really need one? The simple answer is
“Yes”.
We live in an information hungry age where the largest source of
knowledge is the Internet. People are increasingly using this medium to
locate and research products, companies and organizations. Within
the convenience of their own home, and at a time that suits them, people are now
able to simply and easily conduct the type of enquiries and research that
traditionally may have taken them hours (with lots of phone calls and plenty of
running around). The reality is that if you do not have an Internet
presence you are significantly limiting the number of people who are likely to
make contact with you.
There are many different ways in which you can
benefit from having a web site, whether it is for purely personal use, or to aid
your business success. Those who have their own personal websites
generally use them to further and/or share an interest or a hobby.
Businesses on the other hand tend to use a website to promote and market their
goods and services, increase brand recognition, whilst reducing expenses such as
postage and advertising.
A Web site can be seen as a tool to give you or
your business more public exposure and extend your public image.
Additionally it gives your business a widely expanded market, greater
credibility and ultimately more growth.
So what are some of the more specific
advantages in having a website?
Increased awareness of products and services
With your own website
you can publicise your business, service or products to millions of potential
customers. You will have the ability to greatly expand your markets. There
is no need to limit your focus to only the local scene. By using the
Internet, your business will now be able to venture into regional, and even
international markets with greater ease.
Websites, by their very nature,
allow hundreds and thousands of items to be on view 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week, 365 days a year. This allows for wider viewing, and effectively
extended trading hours. Having a website can therefore increase your
sales.
Expanded Customer Base
The freedom to browse anywhere and interact
with anyone is enough to tempt the smallest of businesses, and the most
introverted of people, to get on the Net. The result is that Net
users (and therefore potential customers) are increasing at a steady
rate. Latest figures suggest that approximately 50,000 new
users are gaining Internet access every single day. It's no wonder so many
businesses are buzzing on the Net, for they have found a way to compete on an
even field with even the largest of corporations, and within a daily increasing
customer marketplace.
Cost advantage
With your own website you will be able to
advertise your products and services without the huge costs and delays of
printing, publishing and distribution. With a website you now have a
potential customer base that is global, which of course adds greater value to
the costs outlaid for promotion and marketing.
Your website
can be set up so that customers can order their products and services online,
greatly reducing administration expenses. Further savings can be expected with
the reduction of telephone calls to potential customers, plus you will have the
advantage of extended trading hours without a human presence.
A website
allows you to compete with other companies in your market area. It gives
you an important presence on the Internet, plus the almost endless ability to
promote your business to potential customers.
You can now place your
website address on your business card. This gives you the ability to
enhance your image and increase public awareness of your business or
organization. Furthermore, people today expect businesses to have a
website. It shows that the business is at the cutting edge of technology
which in turn increases public confidence in the business and makes it appear
more professional.
Summary
The current expert opinion is that any business not on the
Internet now, or in the near future, is not only missing out on the rewards of
this new and vibrant industry, but is adding itself to the list of "the
forgotten". Not having your own website is quickly becoming the equivalent
of not having your phone number or business address available to your potential
customers.
So you see the question is not “should i have my own website?”
but rather, “why don't I already have my own website?”. Now is not the
time to be scratching your head wondering what the Internet can do to benefit
your business, for do this and you will soon be left behind. Instead,
think about how you can take advantage of this new, dynamic and cheap form of
industry awareness.