8 Reasons to have a website

You may think what's the point of a having website? You may also think that you don't need a website because your business is too small. Size does not matter here (take the alien space craft come to destroy the Earth - that's only 7 inches high).

Expectation:
Other means of research that were prominent not too long ago (e.g. telephone directories, Yellow Pages, etc.) are now being used much less than before. It's widely expected for any business or organisation to have a website nowadays - that's just the way it is, a sign of the times.  It's much like almost everyone that you know has a mobile phone - how many people do you know now that does not have a mobile phone (apart from your great-grandmother or baby sister)?

Competition:
Without doubt, your competitors more than likely have a website. Your customers may well 'pass your business over' if they cannot search and check your company online. If they do not find you online, then more than likely they'll find the website(s) of your competitor(s).

Cost:
Compared to other means of promotion, having a website is relatively inexpensive for promoting your business and doing business online. The global reach of the internet means you can target users worldwide. How much would it cost by other means to promote your business and reach the same number of potential customers?

24/7:
With a website your business is effectively open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Visitors to your website can find out valuable infomation about your business even when your office, shop, etc. is closed. They can also contact you via email at any time of day, and effectively you can respond likewise at any time of day, even while on the move and away from your business.

Global:
Users with money to spend are not just local to your business - they are global. Currently, there are over 1.6 billion internet users worldwide, and this is set to top 2 billion users by 2012. You can also make your website available in many languages, which of course makes it available to a wider audience.

Promotion:
A website can be used for promotion of many things, most commonly the following:

• business (show the world what your company is about)
• products (showcase, compare, customer testimonials, etc.)
• services (can be explained in more detail)
• ideas/concepts (political, campaigns, use of blogs, etc.)
• events (promote upcoming events, seminars, webinars, etc.)
• community (your town, special interest groups, social groups, forums, etc.)
• yourself (singer, professional, expert, etc.)

Email:
When was the last time you sent a letter (written on paper using a pen) to a friend rather than sending them an email? The use of email is so widely accepted now, most people you know properly have an email address. Businesses use emails in many ways now to commincate with their customers. A website will come with it's own email address pertaining to the domain name (e.g. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ). Using this email address will indicate that you have a website, and shows much more professionalism, than if an alternate email address is used that has nothing to do with the domain name (e.g. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , etc.).

Save Time:
Promotion of your business by other means can take a lot of time and money. A website will have a lot information about your business, products, services, yourself, etc. that can be accessed and downloaded time and time again by visitors to your website, even while your business or shop is closed.