"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 a 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 PayPal, 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.
no-contract cleaning service Des Plaines ..Like wine cars get more attractive to collectors as years... Read More
A lot of people these days are interested in getting... Read More
Simply ensuring your website is accessible to screen reader users... Read More
Fresh website content for your visitors can be of real... Read More
When you consider the billions of individuals and companies on... Read More
A common dilemma most small and medium businesses face when... Read More
One of my most salient memories from when I sold... Read More
There are hundreds of millions of Web surfers today. Each... Read More
You want to give your site's visitors a way to... Read More
What to put your the website if you are an... Read More
Everywhere you look these days, people are telling you that... Read More
With more and more countries around the world passing laws... Read More
So you want to take a look at a real... Read More
The internet has taken over our lives with a vengeance,... Read More
Before you set up any scripts you will need some... Read More
What you should do and know if you are an... Read More
Developing a website with content that entices visitors to return... Read More
The internet is a sea of knowledge. Getting your information... Read More
I recently helped my mom to launch a website (www.mom2me.com)... Read More
Now that you have got your domain name registered, your... Read More
Why do some sites succeed while the vast majority of... Read More
Your site is getting traffic, but conversion rates are horrible.... Read More
Creatively marketing your corporate site takes time in the set... Read More
1) Data CaptureOne easy way to collect e-mail addresses and... Read More
There's been widespread speculation about the new legislation being introduced... Read More
bathroom cleaning service Lake Forest ..Below, I have listed 8 simple steps that you can... Read More
It is an undeniable fact that not everybody is keen... Read More
Your website conversion rate should concern you. This simply refers... Read More
With search engines putting a damper on direct reciprocal links,... Read More
Psychology is a long word which everyone thinks, "no, that's... Read More
The definition of the phrase "Content Management" depends on what... Read More
Your business website is a critical aspect of being able... Read More
A professional online reputation is essential to the flourishing of... Read More
We all start out the same. Some have budgets, some... Read More
No matter what browser you may want to use, you... Read More
Most web sites are more like stage sets than real... Read More
The DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) states that service providers must... Read More
"What's in it for me?" you ask. "Why should I... Read More
Recently I was reviewing the keyword specific conversion rate data... Read More
A lot of people these days are interested in getting... Read More
Web templates by nature are created to aid and ease... Read More
cPanel is a control panel for your website and allows... Read More
There was a time not long ago when setting up... Read More
Like wine cars get more attractive to collectors as years... Read More
"I don't sell anything online, I don't advertise online, in... Read More
I am just a learner who likes to delve in... Read More
Building a website and getting it online is easy. Driving... Read More
They might not be wearing a mask and carrying a... Read More
Although designing a great web site is an important part... Read More
When we review the sites of potential clients, there are... Read More
Web Development |