1. The biggest mistake you can make
is to build a Web site that doesn't do anything for you.
This may seem obvious, but too many companies build Web
sites simply because they believe it would be neat, or
because their competitors have one. Without a real purpose,
a Web site is just a complete waste of time.
By the way, there is always a good purpose for starting
a web site - you just have to discover it. Just look at
all the great things that will happen to you when you
start your own web site:
2. Your business will be open 24 hours
a day. This means you won't have to stay open on Thanksgiving
or Christmas day. If you live on the East Coast, people
from California will still be able to shop in your store
after you close. Any time someone wants to know your hours,
location, directions, or any other details about your
company, they can get it without disturbing you.
3. Low staffing costs. When you have
a web site, you can offer your products and services without
hiring any extra employees. You won't have to spend any
resources on compensating or insuring your new staff members
and still be able to maintain the same level of sales
and customer service.
4. Gain thousands new customers. Because
anyone in the world can see your web site, you will gain
customers from other states and countries while you are
putting in the same amount of effort and money.
5. Create an image of a well established
company. The Internet is a great medium through which
you can create any image of yourself you want. It is all
in your hands: design a professional web site, add helpful
content, and your company will immediately take a step
up in the image it represents. No matter how small your
business is, with the right tools and a great desire you
can make it look like a corporation on the Web!
6. Save on postage and printing costs.
Think of how many cards you mail out to let customers
know about your sale. All of that can be eliminated by
putting the sale information on your web site and inviting
your customers to visit it. You can collect your customers'
E-Mail addresses and keep in touch with them about special
events in your store via E-Mail.
7. Unlimited advertisement. If you ever
advertised in a local newspaper, you know the costs. You
are being charged per line, per inch, and per color. On
the Web, there is no limit to how much you can put. You
can add pictures, articles, newsletters, rates, product
images and so much more! With just one web site, you can
have almost unlimited advertisement for the same low monthly
cost (under $25 a month!)
8. Improve communications. If you have
employees or suppliers, your web site is the best way
to communicate between you and them. Changes take effect
as soon as you post them on the Web, and everyone can
see updated information without having to wait for a new
database of products, and without contacting you directly.
9. Impeccable customer service. This
is a dream of any entrepreneur: "buy my product and
leave me alone". By this I mean that business owners
do not like to spend time explaining to customers how
to use the product, how to install it, troubleshoot it,
clean it, move it, turn it, and whatever else can be done
to a purchased item.
10. A web site will become your best
friend in meeting the needs of your customers. It will
answer all their questions. Simply create a page of "Frequently
Asked Questions" and include its address on every
receipt. This way, before they come to you for help, they
will come to your web site for answers.
11. Online presence - in step with your
competitors. You must think of the Internet as a gigantic
the Yellow Pages book. More and more people use the Web
to shop for information, services and products. If you
are not there - your competitors are! Can you imagine
not being in Yellow Pages and try to reach local market?
Unless you spend a lot of money on newspaper ads and other
local promotions - no one will know your business exists.
The same thing with the Internet. If people can't find
your company on the Web, you might as well not exist.
12. Provide an alternate purchasing
method. Many people do not like to shop in the stores,
malls and any other noisy places (I am first!). They are
afraid of long walks, pressure from sales people, sneezing
customers and bumping shopping carts. Once they discover
online shopping - they will never go back to the stores
unless absolutely necessary. By putting your products
online, you satisfy the needs of such customers and therefore
succeed in one more niche.
13. Showcase your work. Whether you
are a real estate agent, construction business owner or
a beauty salon specialist - you can put your work on display
when you have a web site. Anytime a potential client wants
to see your past work and projects, simply refer him or
her to your site. No need to scan and mail pictures, or
bring your client to a finished building project.
14. Promotional Costs are very low.
When I interviewed the manager of NY State Nissan dealership,
he shared with me the costs of running an online ad compared
to a newspaper or any other printed advertisement. He
said, "We can run a whole month of advertisements
online for the same amount of money we pay for one newspaper
ad!" That's right, on an online promotion you can
spend $97 a month, while paying 10 times that much for
a one-time large ad in a magazine!
15. Beat your competition to the top.
Competition online is huge today! There are over 3,000,000
sites on the Web and this number is growing. Still, I
see at least 5 businesses a month who are not online and
getting a web site is not in their near future plans.
Why am I telling you this? Because if THEY don't get a
web site - YOU have a better chance at succeeding. Insurance,
home improvement, gift shops and other companies are among
those I see dragging their feet in putting their businesses
online. This means if you do it now, before EVERY company
is online, you will be among the pioneers!
Yep, that's right - Internet is still in its babyhood,
no matter how many web sites there are out there. It has
been less than a decade since companies decided to use
web sites as part of their marketing strategies. Can you
imagine what it will be like in 20-30 years??
I could go on and on, but I hope you are convinced: YOUR
BUSINESS ABSOLUTELY NEEDS A WEB SITE! Click here to request
a Quote TODAY!
Even if you are not planning to sell directly online,
people will find your web site and contact you about the
services you offer. You can place your web site address
in your newspaper ads and any other promotional materials
to make people aware of your web site
