Travel and Leisure

A question that has come up frequently when I speak to people who don't have a website is: I don't think I need it. Usually my first response is to ask them for reasons as to their belief.

The thing is, if you've done the research and have made an informed decision after receiving the information, your reasoning will be sounder. However if you are making a decision against a website without evaluating the pros and cons then quite honestly, that can affect your business negatively.

So, with that said, if you're someone with an open mind and practice good business strategy and planning then read on. These five reasons are by no means the only reasons for getting a website. These will get you started in helping you to determine the feasibility of a website for you company. If you require more information for your particular situation follow the link at the end of this article. We will be more than happy to give you free advice and information.

Reason 1 - Professionalism

Before even thinking about whether this website is going to bring in money (which is certainly a valid thought), you need to look at other businesses in your industry. Do some investigation.

A good contact and information website can be had for very little money. People seem to be getting more and more impatient. The current generation of kids grow up with more computer skills at 7years of age than I had at 20. (And I'm not that old.) Technology is developing at a very rapid pace, and it won't be slowing down.

My point is simple. The mere fact that your business has a website, establishes your company as one that is forward thinking. Forward thinking companies often are the ones coming up with new ways of doing things or better ways of doing the same things than that of their competition. These days, the trend seems to be that new companies often get their domain name registered simultaneously with their business name, simply because the internet has become so prevalent and widely accessible that a large percentage of your market is already online.

Reason 2 - Service Enhancement

I think you will agree with me that the quality of service is one of the most important factors of running a successful business. Having a website offers your customers possible opportunities to have them send you requests without having to call you and allows them to gather information about your products and services. There is only so much information that a sales person can convey to the potential client before they start to get annoyed or feel pressured.

A website offers a subtle yet very effective approach where your visitors can review your information at their own leisure and leave your site when they choose without feeling like they have offended anyone. If a customer can do something on your website that they can't do on your competitors' website then you begin to develop a sense of being ahead of the game in your customers' mindset. A website quite clearly allows your business to offer better service, instantly. Better service is what will separate you from the competition.

Reason 3 - Wider reach and availability

It is very costly to start an ad campaign using traditional methods. They often involve print and are usually harder and more costly to find quality targeted potential clients. The internet is enormous. You can reach and communicate with potential clients and other businesses much faster and more effectively than you ever could by traditional means. Having a simple contact form on your website and marketing the website so that it shows up in the search results is a great way to reach many highly targeted clients. Your site does not have to cost a fortune for it to be effective. It can be used as a very effective marketing tool. Your availability to answer questions by a simple faq page that is available around the clock is something that you can't do with traditional methods. Availability means that you can cash in on those impulse buys when people are looking for products and services in the early hours of the morning.

Reason 4 - Branding and lead generation

Create brand name recognition with a good internet marketing campaign. At very little expense you can generate quite rapidly a reputation for your business online. Your business name and what services you offer can become known to people in other states or countries that otherwise would not have known you existed. People do a lot more research using the internet than the yellow pages than they used to 10 years ago. Branding yourself allows you to develop awareness and build trust in your product. Word of mouth does result from online searches and it travels fast. If someone finds a good website, you can bet that they are going to tell their friends about it. This, together with your contact forms and email gathering databases of visitors who come to your site allows you to generate leads that you otherwise would not have had.

Reason 5 - Automation and streamlining

Most people want things now. They love the instant quick fixes. Regardless of the type of product or service you offer, you can benefit from a website that has the ability to allow your client to do something online, like place orders, or request new products or services. Again, this does not have to be expensive, depending on who does your web design and or programming. If your clients can do something online this adds another reason for them to remember your business, or to follow through with future purchases. Make things easy for your customers and they will love you for it. Automating many aspects of your business means that you need to do fewer tasks by hand. This saves time. Saving time saves you money.

I sincerely hope that this article has been useful to you and that you now have a better understanding for the benefits that a website can bring to your business. I am offering free advice to all who contact me and want to know more. You are not required to buy anything either.