How much does your company need your website?
Even if consumers are more inclined to deal with companies that have a website, most small businesses have neither the money nor the time to create a “page” for themselves. To get started, you should ask yourself four simple questions to figure out and decide whether to put the creation of your website on the first place in the list of urgent matters.
According to surveys, about 47 percent of consumers surveyed say that they are more likely to do business with companies that have a website. But, despite the fact that such a large number of consumers rely on the site of the enterprise, most small business companies do not have it. Currently, only 45 percent of businesses have their Internet address.
But before you drop everything and start developing a website for your company, small business owners should ask themselves four simple questions:
Can a client find information about your company on the Internet at the moment?
When consumers use the Internet, they tend to use search keywords. Try to enter in the search box the names of your company and the industry in which your business develops. Will contact information about your company appear at least among the first results? Is your organization in the online list of enterprises in your city? After all, if you do not find your company among the first results, then it will be difficult for potential clients to find any information about you.
Do your competitors have a website?
If your competitors are online, you need to be close to them. Many potential customers start and end their search on the Internet and stop at those companies that are more widely represented there. And if it turns out to be the business of your competitors, then you will lose the battle for new customers in advance.
What is your online reputation?
Very often, disgruntled customers pour their anger through negative reviews on the Internet. And if a “chronically dissatisfied” client annoys your business excessively, you can mitigate the damage to your reputation with your own website, using it as a counter.
Could you increase your online sales?
Some small businesses can easily get by with a simple website that only contains information about the services offered, location and hours of operation. But if your company offers delivery of goods by mail, then a website with the ability to order goods via the Internet will provide you with an easy way to increase sales in a quantitative and geographical area.
Today, a website is a practical tool for attracting new customers, but many small business owners have not yet found the necessary resources and time to create it. Depending on your business and your online presence, a website can be the key to your survival and prosperity in a tough economy.
