Does Your Business Need a Website?
by Robin Snow

People have websites for hobbies, family news, sports, etc. However, if you have a business, whether small or large, you must, without a doubt have a website. Here are just a few ways that a website will help your business to be more successful.

• Marketing
  A website should complement your existing marketing plan and create branding. By having your name, logo and information consistently available to prospects in the form of brochures, business cards, signs and a website, your prospects come to recognize you as the one who can provide a solution to their problem.
  
  A website will reach a huge amount of people at a small cost.
  
  Web pages can be altered easily and inexpensively. New information, updated products or services, specials, etc. can be easily updated in one place on the web. An updated website will also keep visitors coming back.
   

• Resource
  Contact Information - It's much more convenient to look up a phone number on the web than to squint your way through the phone book.

• Information
  A website provides an immediate resource for others to be able to pass your business on as a reference and to refer others to you.
   

• Education
  Your website should clearly define the type of business you want, which will filter out the business you don't want.
  
  People may hear of your services or products and hear just enough about your business to want to learn more on their own terms and time.
   

• Directions
  A website should clearly provide contact information or directions to your place of business.
   

• Competition
  So what if YOU don't think you need a website. Does your competition have a website? Enough said.
   

• Credibility
  Having a website makes you more legitimate and reputable, leading to increased business.
   

• Availability 24/7
  As opposed to having defined hours of operation, a website can be visited any time of day from anywhere in the world, which leads to a broader client base.
   

• Web Stats
  Studying statistics on who visits your website, and what keywords are used to find your site can provide information as to what people are looking for. These statistics will help you create better marketing strategies.