"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.
family-safe home cleaners Northbrook ..A common dilemma most small and medium businesses face when... Read More
Globalize Your WebsiteThe Internet has unlocked a wide array of... Read More
The first thing you will have to deal building your... Read More
There are several reverse bid freelance sites out there. Beyond... Read More
The internet is a sea of knowledge. Getting your information... Read More
One of the things that many people overlook when building... Read More
A professional online reputation is essential to the flourishing of... Read More
Keywords in Search Engine Optimizing and Search Engine Marketing are... Read More
#5 User Satisfaction: Learn what your visitors and site users... Read More
As increasing numbers of people search for information on the... Read More
Dance is how you pamper your soul and satiate your... Read More
With search engines putting a damper on direct reciprocal links,... Read More
"Don't Sell the Steak, Sell the Sizzle."Have you heard of... Read More
Did you know that hosting companies overcrowd their servers despite... Read More
The art of turning website visitors into paying customers depends... Read More
After having decided to start a business, the next thing... Read More
Spend time planning your Web site. Before you design a... Read More
The following is a list of patterns that many visitors... Read More
When I started my company in 2002, I knew I... Read More
Let's begin by setting some limits. If you're like me,... Read More
In the late 1990's three San Francisco based web developers... Read More
One of the most useful features offered by some web... Read More
Why do some web sites reap huge benefits while others... Read More
I still remember it very clear ... It was almost... Read More
In the time that I have been using the Internet,... Read More
residential cleaning services Deerfield ..Designing an E-commerce Web site is not as simple as... Read More
As a business you can't afford to ignore the Internet... Read More
The first thing my business consultant (read brother-in-law) asked me,... Read More
When you publish a content site there are times when... Read More
You have permission to publish this article electronically, in print,... Read More
An automated accessibility tool is a piece of software which... Read More
This simple question can take on several different forms, but... Read More
I'm one of those people that always wanted a website,... Read More
The process of Web application development is critical to the... Read More
A professional online reputation is essential to the flourishing of... Read More
Web sites are not just places to sell things; they... Read More
You know exactly what your organisation does and what your... Read More
If you are like me you have wanted to build... Read More
If one more business owner tells me their website sucks... Read More
Understanding and using web analytics.In recent years, website marketers were... Read More
Conceptualize, Build and Publish a Web site - What's required... Read More
In this example I have used the map of the... Read More
When I set up my website I felt paypal was... Read More
In my previous life.....Actually, my previous JOB life, I was... Read More
There is an ongoing debate about web copy. Some say... Read More
You don't believe in astrology but you check your horoscope... Read More
So you've decided to start an online work at home... Read More
The "robots" meta tag, when used properly, will tell the... Read More
Better Web Site ROIHow to increase your business profitability by... Read More
The Internet has opened a whole New World of opportunity... Read More
Web Development |