Business Website Benefits
A business website is now the standard. There are millions of Internet users online comparing you to your competition and deciding based on your site and quality of content if you are worth contacting. If you are not yet on the web, you're missing out on numerous opportunities and customers because you're not even able to compete.
Potential Online Customers
In Statistics Canada's internet use survey for 2005, they found about two-thirds of Canadians — about 7.9 million families or an estimated 16.8 million adults — with home Internet access went online daily. And this doesn't count all the people who are online at work for 8 hours! This goes to show that customers are out there looking for products and services online. You may be missing out on obtaining these customers because you don't have a site at all, or your site is bad and driving them away.
I have a Website already... I think?!
- Does my website convert visitors into customers and keep them coming back for more?
- Even though I think the website looks nice, what do my customers think? Do they enjoy their online experience with my company?
- Does my site provide real value to my target customers and draw them in?
- If keeping this site is hurting my business is it the right time to invest in something more professional?
Based on a recent study, web users know within about three seconds if a site is 'worth' staying at and therefore if the company itself is worth doing business with. Time is valuable online and your competition is always just a click away. If you have a poorly constructed or amateurish website that has bad navigation, illogical structure, spelling mistakes, broken links, or is unattractive, your website may be hurting your business more than you think by driving away customers. Your site represents your company so a lack of effort translates into a perception of how you do business on a regular basis. So, it's simply no longer sufficient to just 'have a website'. You must have one that stands out and that offers your customers more value than your competitors.
For the reasons mentioned, it is vital to have a professional website that reflects and represents your business and sells your products and services. Care must be taken when developing a new site so that it coincides with your brand, meets your goals, and focuses on your target market.
Top Reasons that every Business should have a Website
- Improved communication and long-term relationships with customers
- Increased sales
- Reduced advertising expenses
- 24/7 visibility
- Expansion into a global market
- Centralized spot to provide company and service information
- Customers getting information when they want it and feel informed when contacting you
