I'm still surprised by some of the business owners I come in contact with. They just don't see the value in having a sharp, attractive, functional, professional website. They struggle and struggle without one, and still they wonder why they have either lost business or just quit growing. The first thing I ask is, how's your website doing? If they say they don't have one, or haven't touched it in years, I just shake my head like a disappointed parent, and ask them. Have you seen the news lately?
"get your act together young man!" My Mother said that to me countless times when I was growing up, and a few times since. "you have so much potential" I heard from my High School counselor, "if only you would apply yourself".
Ok, so here we are (many) years later, and I'm turning the tables. To all you nay-sayers, and afraid-to-learn business owners,(you know who you are) I say, "showing up is half the battle"! I present you with 7 reasons YOU NEED A WEBSITE.
"get your act together young man!" My Mother said that to me countless times when I was growing up, and a few times since. "you have so much potential" I heard from my High School counselor, "if only you would apply yourself".
Ok, so here we are (many) years later, and I'm turning the tables. To all you nay-sayers, and afraid-to-learn business owners,(you know who you are) I say, "showing up is half the battle"! I present you with 7 reasons YOU NEED A WEBSITE.
1. People want to do business with you!
People use Google, Bing and other search engines to find businesses, look up people they meet, find a recipe or the latest techno gadget… people are searching for everything online these days. It’s so common, in fact, that the Oxford English Dictionary added the noun “to google,” meaning “to look someone up online.” When someone tries to find your business online, and they will, and you don’t have your own website, there's no telling how much money you may have lost.
2. Your competitors have websites.
Remember the old adage, “showing up is half the battle”? It's even more true today. You own a business, and and in today's environment, having a website is an absolute must! The only way to take charge of your online image and bring money into your business is to be there when someone tries to find you. You can bank on the fact that your competitors all have websites. That means they are reaching customers that could have been yours. Today, over 70% of Americans use the Internet to find businesses, so you need to make sure all those people can find you online, and not one of your competitors instead.
3. Websites are open 24/7.
Your website is up and running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, working for you! That means you can receive visitors, set appointments, collect leads, receive payments, deliver documents and more. And best of all, convert looker-loos into paying customers around the clock – even while you sleep!
4. Websites keep you globally connected.
Even if your a local small business, you can join in the global community and express your thoughts and ideas to millions of people all around the world. You are no longer limited by your own small town or geographical location, because a website allows you to connect with like-minded people across the globe, wherever they may be.
5. Websites make money
Just in case you recently came out of your cave, you know you can make money with your website. You can use your website to promote your business and gain more customers, and turn your site into an online store so you can sell products and receive payments online. Whatever your money-making goals are, a website can help you achieve them.
6. A website is professional a social media profile alone is not.
I have said this before, Social media is not a magic bean for success! I'm not saying you shouldn't have a social media profile, my business has one. However! If you want people to take you seriously, you need more than just a Facebook or Twitter profile – you need a professional website. Social media sites are great for staying connected with customers, clients and friends, but people don’t give them a lot of credit, unless you have something to back it up. You can only do so much with a social profile, that's why it's called a social profile, it's not a business. If you want to promote your business, you need a real website, not just a social media profile.
7. Your website can promote anything.
You can use your website to promote your business, a group, an organization or just yourself. If you can dream it, your website can be your loud speaker to the world. I'm sure when you opened your doors or met your first client you had business cards in your hand. Business cards are still important today, but having your own website is equally if not more important today.
Now, call me and get your site in order.
People use Google, Bing and other search engines to find businesses, look up people they meet, find a recipe or the latest techno gadget… people are searching for everything online these days. It’s so common, in fact, that the Oxford English Dictionary added the noun “to google,” meaning “to look someone up online.” When someone tries to find your business online, and they will, and you don’t have your own website, there's no telling how much money you may have lost.
2. Your competitors have websites.
Remember the old adage, “showing up is half the battle”? It's even more true today. You own a business, and and in today's environment, having a website is an absolute must! The only way to take charge of your online image and bring money into your business is to be there when someone tries to find you. You can bank on the fact that your competitors all have websites. That means they are reaching customers that could have been yours. Today, over 70% of Americans use the Internet to find businesses, so you need to make sure all those people can find you online, and not one of your competitors instead.
3. Websites are open 24/7.
Your website is up and running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, working for you! That means you can receive visitors, set appointments, collect leads, receive payments, deliver documents and more. And best of all, convert looker-loos into paying customers around the clock – even while you sleep!
4. Websites keep you globally connected.
Even if your a local small business, you can join in the global community and express your thoughts and ideas to millions of people all around the world. You are no longer limited by your own small town or geographical location, because a website allows you to connect with like-minded people across the globe, wherever they may be.
5. Websites make money
Just in case you recently came out of your cave, you know you can make money with your website. You can use your website to promote your business and gain more customers, and turn your site into an online store so you can sell products and receive payments online. Whatever your money-making goals are, a website can help you achieve them.
6. A website is professional a social media profile alone is not.
I have said this before, Social media is not a magic bean for success! I'm not saying you shouldn't have a social media profile, my business has one. However! If you want people to take you seriously, you need more than just a Facebook or Twitter profile – you need a professional website. Social media sites are great for staying connected with customers, clients and friends, but people don’t give them a lot of credit, unless you have something to back it up. You can only do so much with a social profile, that's why it's called a social profile, it's not a business. If you want to promote your business, you need a real website, not just a social media profile.
7. Your website can promote anything.
You can use your website to promote your business, a group, an organization or just yourself. If you can dream it, your website can be your loud speaker to the world. I'm sure when you opened your doors or met your first client you had business cards in your hand. Business cards are still important today, but having your own website is equally if not more important today.
Now, call me and get your site in order.
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