Ladies and Gentlemen, the time has come for you to accept that there is more to your business’ life, beyond your brick and mortar operation. We’ve touched on several of these concepts before, but the truth is that the world is changing and the number of people calling information to find your business is dwindling. The internet has, for the most part, usurped every other type of directory in the world as the go to source for information. It makes no sense not be listed, or discoverable, where people are looking. By not being easily available online, you’re losing out on (potentially) thousands of customers.
Still need some convincing? Gregory Porter wrote the amazing article “Top Seven Reasons Why Your Small Business Needs A Web Presence”, which gives you a veritable plethora of reasons why your business needs to start cultivating this valuable resource, and step out of the darkness, and into the light, where the world can see you. I’ve included my favorite reasons below, but do yourself a favor and follow the link, for the full article.
Your competition is already online.
While “everyone else is doing it” is not an argument that fits most decision-making, choosing to jump on board with other businesses that have gone digital is a bit of a no-brainer at this point in the digital age. In 2013 not having a website for a business is rather like saying that you just don’t want that kind of business because you don’t understand the medium. The simple fact of the matter is that if you are a business today most, if not all, of your competition ,is already online, and they’re getting customers that you’re not as a result. Technology is to the point that having a website doesn’t really provide a ton of advantage over other businesses unless they don’t have one. Conversely, not having a website is a distinct disadvantage to your own business.
It will expand your audience greatly.
Having a website opens up your business and your business and your products to a global audience, which is especially important if you utilize your website as an e-store. Selling your products online is a great way to supplement your offline business, and even if you’re not selling a product even the simplest of websites offers exposure to a free market otherwise left untapped. Plus, we live in a culture where “Google It” is a phrase uttered both by my tech-savvy employer AND my ninety-six year old grandmother on a daily basis, and I think not having a website is a bit of an oversight for any business in existence.
