The Internet. The great leveling medium that makes a small business nearly as accessible as TheBigCorporation.com. But many businesses throw up a site without much thought about the potential impact it can have their business.
Why should you have a web site? Why should your business be online?
These 10 reason will give you something to think …
1. Greater Marketplace Expansion
Boundaries are nonexistent and less restrictive. Making it easier to reach new customer markets both globally and locally.
2. The Internet Is A Great Market Research Tool
Analyze competitors’ web sites. Find data and analysis material for new markets. Receive customer feedback. Possibilities are endless.
3. Release Time Sensitive Materials Faster
You can make information available anytime you want. Make changes on your web site instantly. Something you can’t do with printed materials. You can send last minute sales announcements to your customers.
4. Make Information More Easily Available To Customers And Visitors.
You can post your hours of availability. Put your brochures, catalogs etc. online. You can include a Frequently Asked Questions section. The Internet gives you the ability to add sound and/or video to your site.
5. Ability To Conduct Business 24 Hours
Your web site works 24 hours a day, seven days a week advertising your business.
6. Test New Services And Products
Since you can reach markets faster and quicker, you can test new idea, try a marketing campaign before rolling it out. You can know where to position your product or service in the marketplace.
7. Extremely Cost Effective
It costs practically nothing to put a web site online. Putting brochures, newsletters, and catalogs online saves a fortune in printing and mailing cost. News Releases and media can be distributed over the Internet quicker and cheaper. You decrease administrative cost through online automation. Lower telecommunication cost.
8. Make Connections
It’s not what you know but who you know that opens business doors. Networking online is more time effective than meeting face-to-face. Online you can meet prospects and business colleagues anytime of the day or night. You can quickly build your reputation and credibility all from the comfort of your home .
9. Your Customers Are Online
Consumers are getting online in record numbers and it increases every year. Online retail sales will grow by almost 25% this year, according to Forrester Research. Keep this in mind… people use the Internet to research their buying decisions.
10. Your Competitors Is Online
The best reason of all to market online! Forget the «I’m a local business» mentality. I guarantee no matter what your business, one of your competitors is successfully using the Internet to market their business. Over 40 million people used the Internet last year looking for local information.