A bold statement? Well maybe, but it's becoming increasingly the case that whatever business you happen to be in, you really do need a website in order to stay one step ahead of your competitors (or at least to compete on a level footing with them).
There are large and small business owners alike who still suffer from what I call 'Dark Age Thinking' whenever the subject of having a website to promote their business is mentioned. "Why do I need a website?" they say, innocently.
Well, a better question might be, "What if I don't have a website for my business?" Well, here's why your competitors who DO own a website will be stealing your business right from under your nose!
Potential customers are searching for local products and services online.
That may be a butcher, a hairdressing salon, a bar, a restaurant, a nightclub, a DIY store, a plumber, a carpenter, an electrician, someone to look after their swimming pool, a shoe shop, a jewellers, a dress shop, an accountant, a furniture store etc. I could go on, and if you haven't got a website for your business and your competitors have, then i'll let you guess who is going to grab that money?
When you own a website, your business is never closed!
Whilst your actual business hours may only be 9-5 or whatever, your website goes on working for you 24 hours a day. It's like having your very own salesman working around the clock for you!
Don't forget that just because your business premises are closed that doesn't mean that people aren't going on to the internet and searching to find a business or service just like yours. They can often be searching after they have finished work themselves, or late at night or on a weekend. They are deciding who to shop with, whose service to use. And they are deciding to buy by going to your competitors website, because you don't have one! Every business has to promote themselves with advertising. Right or wrong?
Their are two types of business, those that invest in advertising to promote their business and those that lose potential business hand over fist!
Well, let me tell you, your competitors who DO own a website are getting double the benefit from every penny they spend on advertising. Why? Because every time they place an advertisement in a local newspaper, or magazine or yellow pages etc they can mention their website right there in every ad they place!
This means that readers can read the advert and then go and visit your competitors website and get all the extra information they need. So your competitors get two shots at the same target audience, once from the newspaper or magazine ad and then again from their website, while you're left trailing in their dust because you didn't have a website where you could answer all your buyers questions, show them pictures etc. Your website owning competitors are putting forward a professional image.
Potential customers have more confidence in and prefer doing business with companies that they know something about. With your own website you can keep potential customers informed about the latest products and services you offer, the new menu you have, the latest discount you are offering, your newest line, or just explain to them in as much detail as you want why they should do business with you and not your competitor. You can show them pictures or even talk to them via a video on your site!
Like I said at the beginning of this article, "In these days of fierce competition, if you haven't got a website for your business, you haven't really got a business!" - So get your business out of the dark ages and stop letting your competitors steal your potential customers right from under your nose!
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