Tweet

Why Your Business Needs a Web Site

Guest post by: Veronika Noize

Article Overview: No matter how small your business is, you need a web site.

Why Your Business Needs a Web Site

Let's face it, these days you're just not in business unless you have a web site. I mean, seriously, what is the first thing you do when you're looking for information about a person or a business? You go online, and you look for a web site. If your business isn't there when your prospects are looking for you, you're invisible to all intents and purposes (unless you have killer word of mouth, and even then, you need a web site to take advantage of the buzz).

And no matter what you may have heard to the contrary, a web site is not just an electronic brochure (at least, not if it's any good). Think of it this way:

How would you like to have a sales and customer service representative for your business:

Who never got tired and cranky and snapped at your clients?

Who never gave less than 100% in every client interaction?

Who never ever called in sick, took a vacation (or any time off at all), but was always on time, fresh, eager, and delighted to work for you?

Who never left your company for a better commission structure at one of your competitors?

Who was happy being paid just pennies a day?

Who never said or did anything that you didn't first personally approve?

Who represented you exactly as you asked, the first time, the fiftieth time, and the millionth time, with the same enthusiasm, clear message, and helpful demeanor in each and every interaction?

Your web site can be that sort of representative for your business. Or perhaps a robot could, but now we're talking crazy.

And speaking of crazy, keep in mind that if your competitors have web sites and you don't, they are positioned to close the business that could have been yours. That's really crazy!

In short, there are three good reasons for you to have a web site:

1. Your web site will help you to attract prospects.

2. Your web site will help you to sell your products and/or services.

3. Your web site will help you to keep your clients.

How does your web site attract prospects?

Two words: Sticky content.

Sticky content is information (web site content) that makes people stick around and return for more. Examples are how-to articles, tips and tricks, beginner's guides, and any other free information that your clients and prospective clients would find of value.

Keep in mind that the more content you have, the stickier your site is. Sticky is good for at least three reasons: It gives your visitors a reason to come back again and again; it gives your visitors a reason to tell others about your site; and it demonstrates your expertise for people who are interested in your services.

With good content, you will be able to gather leads, acquire names for your mailing list, as well as offer good reasons for your visitors to tell their friends and colleagues about you.

How does your web site sell for you?

Quickly, easily, and inexpensively is how!

With a web site, you can present buckets of persuasive copy, testimonials, and special offers to tempt your visitors to buy from you. As long as you can articulate a problem that your visitors are facing, and follow it up with your solution, you can sell on your web site. And the best part is that you can tinker as much as you need to with the copy; since you're not printing it, adjustments such as corrections, updates, and other changes can be done instantly and without costing you a bundle.

How does your web site keep your clients?

Almost effortlessly!

Your web site is the perfect place to share information and tools that your clients need in order to be successful in working with you. Newsletters, product and service updates, as well as many customer service functions, and more can be shared with your clients via your web site, freeing up your time to focus on solving problems, rather than managing processes.

Think a web site is a good idea but not one you can afford?

If you think it is too expensive or that technology is too overwhelming for you to have a web site, here's good news: It ain't.

I put up my web site in four days for under $20, and I don't know diddly about programming, coding, or any other technical mysteries. So the best news is that you can do this, too.

No longer is the lack of money, time, or skills to erect a web site an issue, especially if you do it the smart way (like I did!). You can put up your web site quickly, easily, and inexpensively by using a template-based web host. Some that I have used and can recommend include QuickBizSites, Go Daddy, Network Solutions, My Instant Web Site or CityMax.

Using a template is as easy as writing a letter on your computer (and that's EASY!). Can you do that? Can you open, write, and send an email? Can you attach a file to an email? If so, then you can easily master web templates (no kidding!).

And if you're wondering what good a $20 web site is, you tell me. You're looking at one right now.

Related Articles
  Enhance Your Value
  Create a Sitemap to Get your Site Indexed
  Create a Site Map For Better Traffic
  Buying Text Links
  Site Map Tips
  The Importance of a Sitemap
  8 Ways To Get People To Visit Your Web Site
  Web Sites – What Do You Need To Do And More Importantly Not Do?
  What is SEO?
  Before you start a web site re-design...
  Online Business in 2010 - How to Promote Your Site Online
  Linkbuilding Secrets Revealed - Finding Dofollow High Pagerank
  How to Get Indexed By Google
  The Relationship Between Domain Names and Hosting
  Overhauling My Website
  Climbing Mount Google
  Link Popularity
  Who Is Your Audience
  Provide a Site Map to be No 1 on Google
  How Google Indexes Your Site

Article Tags: buzz, client interaction, commission structure, contrary, customer service representative, demeanor, electronic brochure, intents and purposes, millionth time, pennies, prospects, robot, three good reasons, word of mouth



Related Forum Posts
My entry - 1. The Best Business Books Ever: The 100 Most Influential Business Books You'll Never Have Time to Read - this is a fascinating book about the history of Business theory, and I'd recommend it to anybody. 2. The Big Book of Small Business: You Don't Have to Run Your Business by the Seat of Your Pants, by Tom Gegax. Ditto. 3. PADI: The Business of Diving Book Okay, so this book won't be of use to anyone who doesn't want to start a scuba store, but I did, and this book was of course invaluable to me in reaching that goal.
Most Useful SEO Tools For Webmasters - Hi, My name is Jeff, I work for WebBizIdeas.com and we are developing an article called "50 Most Useful SEO Tools for Webmasters." We have ranked & listed our top 30 SEO Tools but want to get your opinion on what SEO Tools are most useful to you; as Internet Business Owners. Google Webmaster Tools Google Analytics Google Alerts Yahoo Site Explorer SEOBook.com Keyword Research SEOBOOK.com SEO For Firefox Tool SEOBOOK.com Search Engine Rank Checker SEOBOOK.com Back Link Analyzer SEOChat.com Keyword Difficulty Compete.com Quantcast.com Alexa.com Archive.org Stompernet Site Seer Technorati.com PRWEB.com ADDTHIS.com SHARETHIS.com EzineArticles.com Scribd.com Squidoo.com YouTube.com StumbleUpon.com Reddit.com Digg.com Del.icio.us Wikipedia.org Flickr.com NewsVine.com Yahoo Answers NOTE: When you list your answers please include a description on what the site is, why it is important to you, and your experience please....we may include it in our article. Jeff
Exclusive: Interview with Results - Hi Forum Members, I'm helping start up a Business Coaching and Consulting company here in Toronto, Ontario, Canada (a Subsidiary of RSC Business in Los Angeles). As a Research and Development Intern I am required to practice my listening and interview skills by surveying Small and Medium Businesses on thier Business. This Survey is designed by RSC Business to also assist the Business being interviewed more insight into their own business. I am looking to interview about 30 businesses across North America over the span of 3 months. At the end of these interviews I will be publishing a report of the results and they will be made available for free to the Interviewees. The Report data will include responses from a minimum of 100 interviews. I would like to extend this opportunity to members of the Forum. If you would like to have this short 20-30 minute interview conducted on your Business and you reside in North America please send me an email or PM. Please contact me at andy[at]jvprosperity[dot]com to arrange our interview and to get free access to the results when they are published.
Re: HOw to market a B2B consulting company - [quote="zohahunt77":428owzbi]Hi, I was wondering if anyone can tell me the difference between B2B and B2C. I don’t know about b2b marketing but I have done marketing so know things about it. I will suggest you to take online services which will spread your business all over web network. Online marketing is the best way to market any business.[/quote:428owzbi] B2B = Business to Business - You are marketing to other businesses. B2C = Business to Consumer - You are marketing to consumers.
Re: Hello from the UK - Hello! What part of the UK are you from? Site looks good, how are you marketing it and what do what want to achieve?


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Let's Skip the Offshore Horror Stories

Tips for the Novice Traveler

What is an Adaptive Organization

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.