Why You Need A Website
By: Edward Robirds
"I have a small business with just a couple of employees and I don't think
my product can really be sold online. Do I need a web site?"
In this day and time, there is very little that can't be sold over the Internet.
There are over 20 million people shopping online, buying everything from movies
to cars to real estate property. Research predicts that revenues will be over
$200 billion in 2004 and will grow at a rate of 30 to 50 percent over the next
few years. These numbers alone should be enough to persuade you that you and
your business should be
online.
Regardless of whether you
sell your product online,
you should at the very least have an online presence so that customers,
potential employees, partners and even potential investors can easily and
quickly find more information about your company, the products and services you
have to offer, as well as how to contact you.
But Can I Afford a Web Site?
Given the competition and current market trends you can't afford NOT to. Think
of your web site as your new marketing tool which, when applied correctly, will
generate a return on investment. Your competition is probably already on-line
and you need to use every possible avenue just to keep up. You should look at
having a web site as an investment in you and your company's future.
So whatever time or money you currently spend on marketing, supplementing it
with an affordable web site is probably a good idea. Your site will help you expand
geographically and compete on a much larger scale.
Leveling the Playing Field
One of the most wonderful things about the Internet is that it's helped to level
the playing field when it comes to competition with the bigger companies. With a
professional-looking
web site, your small business can project the image and professionalism of a
much larger company. It's also a good signal to potential customers that you
take things seriously.
Breaking the Ice into e-Commerce
Taking credit card orders over the Internet is quite an investment, especially
if you don't already have a merchant account. There are several
e-Commerce solutions that can be custom-built for you that use
payment gateways
such as Pay Pal, which only requires a bank account and an email address.
Customers can pay you through their credit card or even their checking account,
and it's a great solution if you're looking to test the waters.
The Bottom Line
To be taken seriously, it's not enough that you simply have a web site, but you
must have a professional-looking web site. Many customers now
search for information online
before making a purchase; your web site may be the first chance you have at
making a good impression on a potential buyer. If your site looks like it was
designed by Uncle Bob, your chance at making that good first impression will be
lost.
No matter what size your business is, and even if you're not planning on selling
online, a
well-made web site is essential for any business. If you don't have a web
site, you're already losing business to companies that do.
About The Author
Edward Robirds is a success-driven artist and interactive media developer based
in Cincinnati, Ohio. Since 1996, Edward has been building business relationships
with several association and commercial clients around the world. Founder of
www.DreamseaArtworks.com, Edward
uses his artistic skills, expertise and passion to design and develop web sites,
interactive CD-ROMs, and print media for his clients.