Why Do I Need A Website?
There are many reasons why you may want a website,
but for a small business, the most important are to
improve
your customer service and to promote your business.
Compared to more traditional advertising mediums,
a website has the potential to reach a larger number
of customers, for a fraction of the cost, and is
not limited by your business’s geographic location
or opening hours.
Think of your website as an on-line interactive brochure,
that promotes your business and sells your products
and services, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You
can
target the increasing number of customers who now use
the Internet as their primary means of finding and
purchasing products and services.
If you sell products and services, your website can
become your online shop-front, showroom, or even take
the place
of a physical shop. An online shop-front, often called
an e-Commerce site, can overcome many of the challenges
involved in establishing a physical shop-front; high
rental costs, limited space, geographic location, opening
hours and the cost of hiring sales staff.
Finally, a website adds credibility to your business
and provides a comfortable and stress-free experience
to potential customers. Customers who would not normally
visit you at your business location, will be able to
find out more about your business and what you can
offer them in the comfort of their own homes. A website
can
prevent you from losing potential customers to other
forward-thinking businesses who do provide this experience.
What Information Should Be On My Website?
Before a stranger becomes a customer they need to
get to know you. This is true whether you introduce
yourself
and your business face to face or via a website. For
this reason you should provide enough information about
your business to allow potential customers to feel
at ease doing business with you. You should establish
exactly;
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Who you are and what you do |
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How you can help them solve their problems |
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Where you are located and how they can contact
you |
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Your approach to business and how you look after
your customers |
Customers who are curious about your business may
feel uncomfortable asking for this information directly,
so your website can give them an entry into your business
in a non-threatening yet informative and credible manner.
Secondly, your website should provide enough information
about your products and services so that customers
feel they can make informed decisions about purchasing
from
you. If your customers form a good impression of your
business through your website, they are more likely
to follow up their online visit with an email or phone
call.
Finally, Pareto’s Principle says that 80% of your
income typically comes from 20% of your customers, so
your website should provide incentives that will attract
return customers. A well managed and marketed website
that is updated regularly with useful information and
product offerings gives customers a reason to check back
often. Try periodically updating your website to showcase
your monthly specials, or give them some useful tips
for using your products. You could also try adding a “news & events” page,
monthly competitions, a well-researched links page, or
advice on common problems experienced by people in their
industry. Give your customers a reason to keep coming
back and refer you to their friends!
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