For months I’ve been blogging about how all businesses, large or small, needs a website. I’ve written it so often; I was starting to annoy myself. Recently I’ve had a change of heart. I see allot of websites in this business and it has become painfully clear that many companies would be better off without them.
What I’m trying to say is if you don’t recognize the importance of a website as a major marketing tool and the effects of what it projects to site visitors, maybe you shouldn’t have one. Business websites should be done well or not at all.
Most people are beginning their search for products and services on the Internet. My 76-year-old father is far from web savvy but when he needs a plumber, he finds it easier to punch “plumbers” and his zip code into a Google search than to look through the phone book. Even if a business is referred by word of mouth from a satisfied customer, most consumers will check the companies website to do a bit of research of their own before initial contact.
The ultimate goal of a website is to attract customers, not to fend them off. Having your business information and/or products on the Internet is imperative but how is it presented could mean the difference between gaining or losing new customers. The best websites are, visually attractive, clear in statement and purpose, uncomplicated navigation, and have a call to action. They also need to be found easily in Internet searches. It may not be brain surgery but it’s no simple task all the same. Hire a specialist. It is a small investment that can have huge returns.
You cannot represent yourself as a serious professional with an unprofessional website. Business sites should not look like a home crafts project and do not need to be flashy or noisy. These qualities may cause site visitors to stop and stare in horror; they might even be amused for a moment, but as far as them choosing to do business with such a company, probably not.