A surprising number of small businesses have been slow to go online. Here%26apos;s why you need to be online now, whether you%26apos;ve got something to sell or not. A website today is as essential as the name of your business, your phone number, or the façade of your retail store. Every business -- from a restaurant to a biotech research firm to an industrial laundry -- needs one. Yet research has indicated that about only 50 percent of small businesses in the U.S. actually have websites, with those numbers lower in less tech-savvy markets. Here are some compelling reasons why you need a website: Reason #1 – To set up a store front Many a small business has found that even if they can%26apos;t afford rent on Main Street, or in the Mall, they still can exist in cyber space and sell their goods and services. The Internet has changed the way people shop. It%26apos;s no longer about getting in the car and driving down to the store, or even looking in the phone book. Having an address on the Internet gives you a place to describe your goods and customers a place to find you. Reason #2 –As a cheap way to advertise Creating your online presence needn%26apos;t be expensive. A very basic HTML or Flash Web presence can be had for as little as $500, a standard website for $500-$1,500, and a fully customized site for $1,500 and up. Compared to other forms of advertising, websites offer very good value to money spent. Compare the cost of a website site to a full page ad in the newspaper, just one time, and you can see the value in the investment. Reason #3 – Customer service A website is essential to establish your businesses%26apos; credibility and to provide support for customers so that they can find easy answers to their questions about your business – such as where you are located, what products or services you sell, and how to contact you. This self-serve information for customers can help you, as a business owner, save time by leaving you free to focus on business. Reason #4 – Remain open 24/7 Few businesses keep their doors open around-the-clock. But a Web presence can make it seem as if your business does. Through click-on e-mail, customers, clients, or partners can contact you when it%26apos;s convenient for them. Potential customers can find out information about what you sell and how you sell it at all hours -- on weekends, in the middle of the night, or in different time zones. Reason #5 – Think globally Having your signpost on the Web allows your business to do business all over the world. It lets potential customers in, say, Buenos Aires know what products you sell in Kalispell, Montana. A trick to expanding your business internationally is to offer translations of information on your website into the languages spoken in the countries you want to target (although this can get very expensive). Reason #6 – Launch promotions easily On the Web, it%26apos;s much simpler to change your product or service offerings, or your prices, than in a print catalog. You can also launch new promotions with a few keystrokes. You should frequently add fresh content and incentives to bring customers back for more. If the website remains static, there%26apos;s no reason to return. Weekly updates with web-only deals and coupons is a great way to keep your customers checking back if you don%26apos;t have any actual content to add. For a small company, a regularly-updated news page is often enough to keep you in the loop. If you need help with any of the items above, give us a call at 406-203-4200 and talk to us about your marketing plan. We can help you get on the web, write press releases, plan an event, implement an advertising plan and more!
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