"I have a small business with just a couple of employees and I
don’t think my product can really be sold online. Do I need a
web site?"
In this day and time, there is very little that can’t be sold
over the Internet. There are over 20 million people shopping
online, buying everything from movies to cars to real estate
property. Research predicts that revenues will be over $200
billion in 2004 and will grow at a rate of 30 to 50 percent over
the next few years. These numbers alone should be enough to
persuade you that you and your business should be online.
Regardless of whether you sell your product online, you should
at the very least have an online presence so that customers,
potential employees, partners and even potential investors can
easily and quickly find more information about your company, the
products and services you have to offer, as well as how to
contact you.
But Can I Afford a Web Site?
Given the competition and current market trends you can’t afford
NOT to. Think of your web site as your new marketing tool which,
when applied correctly, will generate a return on investment.
Your competition is probably already on-line and you need to use
every possible avenue just to keep up. You should look at having
a web site as an investment in you and your company’s future.
So whatever time or money you currently spend on marketing,
supplementing it with a web site is probably a good idea. Your
site will help you expand geographically and compete on a much
larger scale.
Leveling the Playing Field
One of the most wonderful things about the Internet is that it’s
helped to level the playing field when it comes to competition
with the bigger companies. With a professional-looking web site,
your small business can project the image and professionalism of
a much larger company. It’s also a good signal to potential
customers that you take things seriously.
Breaking the Ice into e-Commerce
Taking credit card orders over the Internet is quite an
investment, especially if you don’t already have a merchant
account. There are several e-Commerce solutions that can be
custom-built for you that use payment gateways such as PayPal,
which only requires a bank account and an email address.
Customers can pay you through their credit card or even their
checking account, and it’s a great solution if you’re looking to
test the waters.
The Bottom Line
To be taken seriously, it’s not enough that you simply have a
web site, but you must have a professional-looking web site.
Many customers now search for information online before making a
purchase; your web site may be the first chance you have at
making a good impression on a potential buyer. If your site
looks like it was designed by Uncle Bob, your chance at making
that good first impression will be lost.
No matter what size your business is, and even if you're not
planning on selling online, a well-made web site is essential
for any business. If you don’t have a web site, you’re already
losing business to companies that do.
About the author:
Edward Robirds is a success-driven artist and interactive media
developer based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Since 1996, Edward has been
building business relationships with several association and
commercial clients around the world. Founder of
www.DreamseaArtworks.com, Edward uses his artistic skills,
expertise and passion to design and develop web sites,
interactive CD-ROMs, and print media for his clients.
