Why your company needs a web site
In the past, when your customers were looking for a product or service, their easiest option was to open theYellow Pages to search for a store or company in their area that provided their desired product or service. The Yellow Pages supplied a name and phone number, and sometimes, an address. On more rare occasions, a Yellow Pages listing provided a picture advertisement with a list of services or products. A small adversiement in the Yellow Pages costs between $1,500 to $2,500 a year.
The information paradigm for business has changed in the last five years. Providing information on your business and services is one of the most important ways to serve your customers. The Yellow Pages are no longer a sufficient means for your potential customer to find you. You need more than a phone number to attract customers. You need to provide potential customers with information. A web site provides information on your business 24 hours a day, seven days a week, when it's convenient for your customer!
A web site is a great way to communicate your message to many people in the most cost effective way. You wouldn't place an ad in the newspaper that listed all your products, services, and your portfolio of pictures, would you? You could, but would that be cost effective? A typical newspaper ad can cost you thousands of dollars (one big enough to list all your information), so could a web site, however the ad runs once, your web site lasts indefinitely, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for the same price, and your web site can potentially provide significantly more information.
Internet marketing research firms predict that the number of online consumers 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 your business should have a web site. Did you know that 71% of Internet users go online to research products and services for their area rather than using a local directory or phone book?