The internet has taken over our lives with a vengeance, and has changed the way many of us do business. More and more consumers are now doing their shopping online and, unfortunately, some business owners have felt the pinch.
But there are many small businesses that have been virtually unaffected by the internet boom. Those professionals in the more service-oriented fields - veterinarians, chiropractors, beauticians, dentists and more - do almost all of their work in what's now affectionately know as the brick-and-mortar business, and as such can never be fully replaced by internet technology.
However, many of these businesses, from tiny mom-and-pop stores to small health care centers - have yet to merge onto the information highway, and it's costing them plenty; of customers, that is.
That's because, although traditional advertising (phone books, flyers, radio ads, etc.) are still widely used, there is no doubt that the most effective advertising now takes place online.
As our society becomes increasingly computer-savvy, consumers are turning more and more to the internet for information and advice on where to do their business. Your potential customers would much rather type your business name into a search engine than ferret out your phone number in some ratty, old phonebook.
And who can blame them?
On the web, your potential clients can find out your hours and location 24/7, get a feel for your business philosophies and practices and can learn about your services and pricing without having to listen to annoying hold music or endless phone menus. Even better, they can get all the information they need at their own pace, taking breaks to feed the cat and burp the baby as needed.
Of course, they can't do any of the above unless your small business has its own website, preferably with a recognizable domain name (http://YourBusinessName.com) and Search Engine Optimization, which makes your business easier to find on the vast world wide web. Now that so many consumers are turning to the internet to find the services they need, it's imperative that your small business has the same (or better) web presence than that of your competitors.
Luckily, web design now comes in all flavors and sizes, so you won't have to look far to find a designer and a site that's right or you.
Often a simple one-page website is enough for very small businesses; hours, location, contact information and basic services can all be presented in a professional way for your prospective customers. A medical professional may require more pages; perhaps choosing to explain particular procedures and detailing insurance information. And some small businesses prefer to put everything online, from articles and interactive forms to detailed descriptions of their personal business philosophies.
No matter which design and options you choose, your website will reassure and impress potential consumers, leading them directly to your brick-and-mortar door, and leaving you to concentrate on what you do best; running your small business.
About The Author
Kelly Kyrik is the owner of Tech-Know-Girl Web Design - http://www.tech-know-girl.com - which provides custom designed websites to meet all your small business needs. She can be reached at http://www.tech-know-girl.com or toll-free at 1-877-554-6500.
limousine Ackley .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareSucceeding with an eCommerce website is a dream for many... Read More
Today it seems everyone is jumping on the entrepreneur bandwagon,... Read More
Many web developers today are starting to KISS their website,... Read More
Visitors to your site come looking for information or solutions... Read More
That's right. Your method, behavior and strategy you are now... Read More
It is an undeniable fact that not everybody is keen... Read More
When you publish a content site there are times when... Read More
If you are developing your website on a host that... Read More
From early days of www, the Internet sites that are... Read More
Huge Mistake #1: Creating a Website with Flash -- Did... Read More
Web accessibility has so many benefits that I really do... Read More
You've decided to create a website to market your products... Read More
Every good Internet business understands the value of conversions versus... Read More
If you are living in a country that its native... Read More
There was a time not long ago when setting up... Read More
1. Upload robots.txt file in to your root directory and... Read More
Do you make your website just to entertain yourself or... Read More
1. Be clear on your purpose.Building a website can be... Read More
Alternate medicine finds its own place in the hearts and... Read More
You know exactly what your organisation does and what your... Read More
There's been widespread speculation about the new legislation being introduced... Read More
You have seen those web pages where they have the... Read More
Spend time planning your Web site. Before you design a... Read More
Losing website sales and traffic is sometimes simply a case... Read More
Failure, just like success, is measured differently by each and... Read More
shuttle from O'Hare Alexander ..Many millions of dollars are being wasted on promoting and... Read More
Profiles are one of the best kept secrets around regarding... Read More
The evolution of web development parallels the model of technology... Read More
Have you ever thought the secret behind the success of... Read More
First, an eye opener. Making your fortune through affiliate programs... Read More
Thousands of people are now making a living online and... Read More
The Disability Discrimination Act says that websites must be made... Read More
1) Word of Mouth The single most powerful form of... Read More
When most people build a web site, they think one... Read More
Your site is getting traffic, but conversion rates are horrible.... Read More
In this day and age most businesses consider having their... Read More
Even though the Internet has been around for a long... Read More
Just starting out, you can start with a simple informational... Read More
The definition of the phrase "Content Management" depends on what... Read More
Setting up a website is the very first step of... Read More
Knowledge is power.And undoubtedly, it is the key to making... Read More
The popular search engine Google indexes over 8 billion websites.... Read More
Many small companies choose not to invest in a professionally... Read More
The Disability Discrimination Act states that service providers must not... Read More
Research reveals three important facts:1) The Internet is one of... Read More
Better Web Site ROIHow to increase your business profitability by... Read More
We are clearly well past the innocent "golden age" of... Read More
Developing a website with content that entices visitors to return... Read More
Recently I was reviewing the keyword specific conversion rate data... Read More
Understanding and using web analytics.In recent years, website marketers were... Read More
Web Development |