Ofans Inter Biz

WUNAW MEANS: WHY YOU NEED A WEBSITE 

WHY YOU NEED A WEBSITE

If you don't have a website, then you might not realize all the great things they can do for you. Maybe you think there wouldn't be any point, because your business is too small – or maybe you don't even have a business! Perhaps you think it'd be a lot of work for little reward. Most companies today will acknowledge the importance of doing business online and the influential role a website can play in their overall success. Whatever your situation is, though, you need a website, and I'm here to tell you why.

What exactly are the advantages of owning a website though and in what ways can having one actually improve your business? When done properly, and professionally, here are a few of the best answers...

1. People Will Look for You Online.  Sooner or later, someone's going to type your name into a search engine. What do you want them to find? Nothing? These are people who want to find you, and if you don't have a website then you're letting them down – they expect you to be online. For many people, you might as well not exist if you can't be found with a search engine. Not having a website is like not bothering to get listed in the phone book. Whether it's customers or old school friends you're hoping for, very few people are going to find you if you aren't online.

2. Easier Access & Convenience: A website offers your customers better flexibility and convenience when dealing with you. Users can inquire about your company on their own timetable, without placing a phone call or driving to your location. Once online your business is always just a click away making communication quick and easy.

3. Websites are Great Advertising:  Whatever you're advertising – your services, your products, or just yourself – a website is a great way to do it. Every other kind of advertising going costs a premium, especially if you want to target a specific kind of person, and there's no guarantee that they're paying attention. Websites are like brochures that are free to reproduce, interactive, and quickly distributed to people who are already looking for them. No advertising medium even comes close to the ease-of-use and effectiveness of a website.

4. To save on advertising costs: Having a well-designed business website advertise the business itself is very effective, and it is far more economical than placing ads on billboards, TV, radio, newspaper, direct mail, telemarketing, etc. The only major cost involved is the website development cost, and it is one-time. Updating and maintenance costs are minimal comparing to other recurring advertising costs.

5. Instant Credibility: A quality website will give your company a strong first impression and “instant credibility” within seconds of viewing it. If you are a small business or working from home a strong web presence becomes even more valuable. A website is often your “first contact” with customers and can make or break you with new clients.

6. To save the environment : Wouldn't you like to be a little bit more environmental friendly to our Earth? With your business website, you may not need to print as many brochures, flyers, etc. as you had before. The amount of paper may be equivalent to a few trees, but it does count!

7. To make changes quickly: Again, think of your business website as an online brochure. It is distinct from the print brochure in that changes can be made and mistakes can be corrected almost instantaneously, at little or no cost at all. With your website, your existing and potential customers can get the latest updates on your new arrivals, specials, prices, etc. on a daily or weekly basis. 

8. A Website is a Worldwide Presence: On the web, it doesn't matter whether someone is next door to you or on the other side of the world – they can see your website just the same as anyone else can, at no extra cost to you or to them. Phone and post both cost enormous amounts long-distance, but a website lets you send information anywhere without any extra effort or expense. You can make friends and contacts in places you've never been and will never go – suddenly, working globally is no more effort than working locally.

9. 24 Hour Around the Clock Service: A website is available to your customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and that includes evenings, weekends, and holidays. People can visit your website at any time to get information or even purchase goods & services online. Having a website makes sure your business is “always open” even when you are closed.

10. Your Website Can Make You Money:   There's a lot of money on the web, and it's not hard to get some – the longer you're online for, the bigger your share can get. If you have something to sell, you can sell it worldwide, thanks to credit cards. Doing business online eliminates almost every overhead there is: all you need to do is have the goods. If you've written something useful, you can put it out there with a few ads. You won't get rich overnight, but you can set up a steady trickle of income... and there's no limit to the number of trickles you can set up.

11. To sell online : For many small to medium-sized businesses, being able to sell their products/services through their business website is not a necessity. However, with the rapidly-increasing number of Internet users conducting business online, businesses may have to eventually consider this avenue!

12. Your Website Can Save You Time: Giving out information takes time, whether it's on the phone, or in brochures, or even if it's just emailing your family. Websites are designed to save you time. All your family and friends can read your online diary (known as a weblog), but you only had to write it once. Customers can see your whole product catalogue without ever needing to talk to you or visit you. This is the power of the web: things on it are written only once, but can be downloaded endlessly – a good website runs itself, and keeps being useful to people for much longer than you'd expect.

13. Constant Advertising: Traditional advertising such as radio, newspaper, and mail-out ads are often quite expensive and only last a couple of weeks if not days. Your website is always there to promote you with no time limit or expiry date, making it one of the best long-term investments for your money.

14. Reach a Bigger & Broader Audience: As a business owner your consumer base is often limited to the regions and areas around you. With the World Wide Web you can expand your audience to other cities and even other countries. A website opens up new markets you otherwise wouldn’t have access to, meaning better exposure and greater sales potential.

15. Easier to Find & Remember: Typing in a website link is often easier then flipping through the Yellow Pages or fumbling through your wallet for a business card. A website makes it easier for customers to find you and then remember you once they do. The phrase “a picture is worth a thousand words” definitely applies with websites.

16. Everyone Else Has One: Websites are longer considered a luxury item, they are a standard and recognized way that companies do business. The absence of a website can make your company look dated and out of touch with today’s business scene.

17. Have Business Come To You: Many companies need to constantly be approaching new customers or soliciting business on an ongoing basis. A website will help bring customers to you by finding your company in search engines or other online advertisements. If done correctly a website can be one of the best sources of continuous revenue available today.

18. To enhance your customer service :  As mentioned in reason 17, a business website would be of great assistance for individuals who are leading a busy lifestyle; with a few mouse clicks, they can get access to information regarding your store hours, your products, pricing, et. Furthermore, people who are regular e-mail users would appreciate it if they can send e-mail asking questions via your website.

20. To protect your local market:  Under the impact of globalization, there is a great chance that your existing and potential local customers go online and purchase goods/services (that your business specializes in) from other businesses. By having a website, your local market can be protected!

21. To reach a specialized market:  If your business is specialized (ie. it concentrates on a distinct area, for example, mountain bikes, custom woodworking, Tutorial Classes, law, real estate, etc.), then having a business website is a great way to exhibit your professionalism in your area of expertise.

 22. To stay competitive:  Do you know that now at least 60% of Nigerian companies have a Web presence? Your competitors may have already been in that sixty percent. If they have not had a website, chances are they may not be very happy to know that you have one!