Every home-based and brick and mortar business should at least have a portion of their company operating online - meaning they need to invest in a web hosting plan and build a website. A number of businesses in a wide range of industries have realized the marketing value of the internet, from restaurants to department stores. This platform offers endless opportunities and allows you to promote your business in ways that just cannot be achieved offline.
A website can serve benefits to any company looking to establish itself in the marketplace. To compete in today's economy, a website is an absolute must. We could explain for days why you need a website, but here are a few key reasons that come to mind.
Low Startup
Believe it or not, the internet is the most inexpensive way to run your company. Instead of running up the bill on your land line or mobile phone, you can communicate with your customers via email 24/7. The entire process will involve far less paper work and simply make the business much easier to run. Getting a website of your own doesn't cost much these days, as web hosting plans can be found for under $5 per month. This gets you everything needed to build an online presence from email accounts to keep in touch with clients to shopping carts to sell your products.
You're Always Open
Unlike a traditional business that closes at a set time each day, your website is always open for business - 24 hours a day, 365 a year. After posting your content, it will remain on the site until changes are made, meaning your products and services can be purchased at any time of the day. The software integrated into your provider's server will take the order, calculate shipping costs, process it, and send the funds to your account. If the site becomes popular, this could be some of the easiest money you'll ever make.
Worldwide Marketing
Although you might be currently targeting one demographic market, it doesn't have to remain this way. There are millions of people using the internet each minute of the day, with thousands more making connections by the second. Thanks to the World Wide Web, this service is available to people in various countries throughout the globe.
With the convenience of the internet, consumers are shopping online fervently, purchasing everything from airline tickets to used instruments. These same people could be buying your products, growing your client base to new heights. Just think how much it would cost to directly advertise your product in Japan or London - now compare that number to what it would cost to run a website. The benefits here are as clear as day.
Exposure for Your Brand
Perhaps you're not interested in e-commerce and would like to keep the bulk of your business running offline. A website allows you to publish information about your business for the world to see. You can easily post images about your products and services and let potential clients know what you have going on offline. Those who are interested can contact you via mail, phone or that handy email account we mentioned above.
Easy Promotions
Not to say that online marketing is a walk in the park, but launching promotions for your business is much easier with a website. With a few simple strokes of the computer keys, you can present a well designed campaign with discounted prices and special incentives to keep your customers coming back. By keeping your pages updated with fresh content, visitors are sure to stop by from time to time to see what is new with your business.
New Concepts
The internet offers a plethora of ways to take your current business and expand on it. For instance, you can transform your website into a member community where visitors are able to carry on discussions about topics related to the company. This can be done with a blog, bulletin board or guestbook. A perfect example of exploring new concepts is the growing number of authors selling their novels online in the form of eBooks. With new technologies being introduced every year, the possibilities here are endless.
Customer Support
A website is a great way to establish credibility for your company in the form of solid support. Instead of running to the phone every time someone has a question or concern about the service, you have the option of responding via email. Web hosting packages today come with numerous support features, including support ticket systems, bulletin boards and even chat room applications for live assistance. We all expect solid customer support when purchasing something; here is your chance to provide the excellent service you desire. With a thorough support system in place, you can focus your attention on the critical areas of the business.
Conclusion
Granted, not all of us are computer savvy, but having your own website isn't as technically challenging as you might think. Web hosting companies offer intuitive software that makes the task of building and administering your site much easier. If you're looking for ways to expand your business, the internet just may be the answer.
Adam Hobach is a Network Engineer with "Doreo.com". You can learn more about "Web Hosting" services online at http://www.Doreo.com © 2008 Doreo http://www.Doreo.com You may reprint this article online and in print provided the links remain live and the content remains unaltered (including the "Author Biography"). |
0 comments:
Post a Comment