Has the thought of owning your own web site ever crossed your mind?
Whether you own a bricks-and-mortar business, want to turn a hobby into
an income, or anywhere in between, a web site is an easy and
inexpensive way to get the word out about your business.
Below are the Top 10 reasons people should consider owning a web site:
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Conduct Business 24/ 7/ 365.
Imagine your website as your cyber-employee, presenting your goods,
answering questions, and taking payments 24 hours a day, seven days a
week, 365 days a year! This employee never quits, doesn't complain, and
doesn't require a weekly paycheck.
Not only can you conduct
business at any time, but your web site provides a unique way to grow
your sales revenues. At no additional cost, you can promote a weekly or
daily special, post a menu item of the day, or offer a coupon code for
that day's purchases only.
Make it easy for your customers
to shop with you again and again. If you have a local store or office,
be sure to provide a sign-up sheet or other means of gathering your
customers' email addresses, so you can contact them through email
marketing as well as your web site.
And did you realize that your
around-the-clock online business lets you find customers from anywhere
in the world? You're no longer restricted to your own neighborhood or
time zone. Whether your product or service is delivered electronically
or shipped conventionally, your website can explode into new markets
while you sleep!
-
Provide Business Information.
How many customers call your place of business to ask routine
questions? You know, things like location, hours of operation, and
credit cards you accept.
A website lets you immediately
provide information to prospects and customers any time of the day or
night. They can view a map complete with driving directions from their
home or office, get phone numbers, check your hours, and see what
credit cards you accept. All without tying up employees' valuable time,
much of which is wasted answering the same questions over and over.
Your website can also serve as
your real-time market resource. With permission, people can download
your latest brochure or price list. Policy changes or price increases
can be communicated instantly through your website − without the time
and expense of physically publishing and mailing them.
But don't think these materials
should be limited to written and graphical information. Imagine how
impressed visitors would be if you added audio or video to your site to
provide information or give an online presentation in a much more
interactive way!
-
Be Viewed as an Expert.
It's human nature to want to work with knowledgeable people who
understand the needs of their market and strive to provide the best
solutions. Your website allows you to do this.
Let's face it. Most people go
online to search for information. A website allows you to provide
written, audio, and even video information online at no cost. Post
articles about your company, industry, or product line, and press
releases of the latest news.
Don't limit it to your company.
Showcase your customers! Include lots of testimonials (audio and video
work the best). Share case studies about how your customers benefit
from your products and services. And use "before and after" pictures if
your niche lends itself to it, as they are always of interest to web
visitors.
-
Gather Leads.
It's quick and easy to add a squeeze page or opt-in form to your web
site. Offer a special report or a bonus for signing up for your
newsletter, special report, or ecourse. These people are interested in
what you have to offer, so make it easy for them to become part of your
email marketing system − and keep them informed and in touch.
-
Increase Profits by Selling Information Digitally.
It costs next-to-nothing to produce ebooks, MP3s, and audio recordings,
because there are no "hard" costs associated. This means that, aside
from selling costs, all of the profits go to you!
-
Reduce Costs.
Hand-in-hand with making more money is being able to save more of the
money you make! The cost of producing four-color brochures is
staggering for the average small business. The cost is minimal if you
produce it digitally, using existing equipment, and post it online.
Instead of printing costs and paper brochures that take up space, your
website allows visitors to download the same brochure at no cost to
you.
Employee costs can also be
reduced as customer service becomes more efficient. Online FAQs
(Frequently Asked Questions) can address many of your prospects'
questions without calling or emailing your office. And a 24/7 web
presence allows customers to place orders online – at their convenience
– with no help from sales personnel.
-
Expand Your Business Through Partnerships.
Combine the power of your website with your expertise, and you can
build a great sales team to help you promote your products and
services. The best part is that your sales team won't cost you a dime
until it makes you money!
-
Enhance Your Customer Service.
Your 24/7 website could be the first place your clients visit when they
have customer service needs. Add a page of Frequently Asked Questions
and a News section and you'll have fewer calls and emails to your
staff. Survey customers and find out what services they'd like to use
online and your website can take over even more.
Why not add online forms that
can be downloaded and read or completed before a face-to-face contact
(perhaps a loan form or insurance form). Let your customers request an
appointment or get a bid through your website. They will appreciate
your new-found efficiency as much as you do!
-
Test-Market New Products and Services.
While you can get feedback for any type of business, it's especially
easy to test online products and services. A website allows you to
conduct online polls and surveys to find out what's on the minds of
your prospects and customers, what they like, where they'd like to see
improvement – the topics are endless. It's like having an online focus
group without paying those big bucks!
-
Stay Competitive.
Every day, more of your competitors are staking their claims on the
Internet. Marketing 101 tells you that you don't want to be last to
market. Your competitors are building relationships and prospecting
your customers every day. All businesses, whether selling to a local
market or worldwide, simply cannot afford to be without a web presence.
