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Why You Need A Website!
You probably hear
it every now and again, once per month, a few times a week or maybe even every
day? Somebody you know tells you that you need a Web site. Your reply is either
a gentle reminder that you already have a Web site, an inquiry into why this
person thinks you do or a firm command that a Web site is not in your immediate
future.
More often than not, your request for additional information leads to a
generalized statement that "everybody has a Web site," or that you need to "sell
stuff" online. While those are of course valid arguments have you ever really
stopped and seriously thought about why you might actually need a Web site, what
you might potentially be missing out on (According to NRF/Forrester Online
Retail Index, consumers spent $6.1 billion online in December 2000) and how
having a poor Web site actually hurts more than it helps?
What I have discovered in my career so far is that to answer the question of why
you need a Web site is really to narrow the reply down to a few key concepts
that form the core of any Internet project and strategy. Once you grasp and
understand the fundamental reasons behind investing in a Web site you might
realize that those people who tell you that you need a Web site are actually,
more often than not, right. Here are those five essential reasons and a list of
others:
1. To Inform
The old adage that nobody knows your business better than you is true, but
wouldn't it be great if other people at the very least were able to know what
you do? Having a presence on the Web helps others to learn more about who you
are, what you do and how your products or services may ultimately benefit
themselves. Your business may be the best kept secret in town but ask yourself
this; how many secret businesses actually turn a profit? Let people in, enable
people to get to know you and open your business to the world of unlimited
opportunity. According to Strategy Analytics by 2005 it is predicted that 91
percent of US households will have access to the internet via PCs and other
Internet appliances.
2. To Say
Nothing of course compares to a personal visit to your store, office or
headquarters but your Web site is the next best thing. Your Web site is your
opportunity to make a lasting impression and can serve as your virtual
environment and 24-hour salesperson. Consider what your Web site might say about
your organization. It may portray that same professional quality that you
normally invoke with your pamphlets, brochures and face-to-face meetings or just
as poor customer service or a disorganized storefront can undermine the image of
a company in the eyes of consumers, so too can a poorly designed, managed and
coded website. Also consider what not having a Web site will say about your
company.
3. To Do
Nobody develops a business Web site without expecting some sort of a return on
investment, so how does investing in a Web site lead to ROI? There are many
answers to that question, some are creative and some are straightforward. Is the
goal to simply generate an order or is it to collect information such as names,
phone numbers and e-mail addresses for the development of a qualified lead
database? Do you want somebody to fill out an online questionnaire or just to
click around and drive advertising rates? Put simply, if you don't have a Web
site that does something, you are putting your business at a disadvantage.
4. To Transform
Think of a Web site as a virtual extension of your traditional business and use
the Web to help transform your company to meet and anticipate new industry
demands. It has the potential to be your top salesperson and your most helpful
customer service associate, it is also a reusable, easily changeable brochure
and your top advertisement. Use the Web to interact with customers and clients
who are asking for better, more efficient ways of doing business with you
because chances are, that your competition has already begun to take those steps
to steal your customers and clients.
5. To Compete
If you build it they will come, right? Well, if you don't build it they will go
to your competitor. Investing in the development of a Web site is the best, most
cost-effective way to "keep up with the Jones' these days" and not having a Web
site is the best way to count yourself out of the running before the race has
even begun. If you don't have a Web site you won't be found by the millions of
people (39.8 million online business searches per day according to Overture)
that use the Internet daily to look for different types of goods and services
online.
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45 Additional Reasons
you Need a Web Site
1. You have some information that is helpful or
interesting
2. You have a product you would like to sell
3. You want to let people know about your business or
organization
4. You have customers who need your support
5. You want feedback from your customers
6. You want to make contact with others
7. You want to expand your business, domestically or
internationally
8. You need to transfer information to other branches
and
salespeople
9. Your message can be seen by millions of people
10. Improve your image
11. You're always open
12. You can increase your productivity
13. Your business gets the competitive edge
14. Your message is always current
15. Your Web site is cost-effective
16. It's never been easier or more affordable
17. A Web site cannot be sent to the wrong address or
thrown out
18. A Web site gives your customers instant access to
your products
19. A Web site may be changed on the spur of the moment
20. Increases the chances of impulse buying
21. Businesses without an Internet strategy are finding
it
hard to survive
22. Technology know-how is a key difference in the
marketplace
23. Inexpensive, fast and effective customer-service
24. There are no reproduction costs with the web
25. customers can be referred to your web site for
further
information
26. Reduce staff time
27. Find more customers online (and take some of your
competitors)
28. Save time
communicating electronically
29. Work can be processed faster and more efficiently
30. Demonstrate a progressive and expanding business
31. keep archives of old information at no extra
production
costs
32. Your competitors have Web sites and your prospects
have seen them
33. Deliver your message without spending money on
printing or postage
34. You are on equal footing with the world's largest
companies
35. You can reach a potential 50+ million people
worldwide
36. You have free demographics gathering capability
37. Provide qualified leads for new clients or contacts
38. You can gather information about your competitors
39. Generate immediate orders from new and existing
clients
40. Enable customers to contact you or request more
information
41. Used as an inexpensive form of marketing research
42. Builds credibility for your organization
43. Will increase your competitive advantage
44. Because everybody else has one
45. Generate an online list of e-mail addresses for
direct
marketing
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