Benefit 1: A website is extremely cost effective advertising

Working alongside other advertising media such as posters, leaflets, posting in directories etc, a website can be extremely cost effective in promoting your business. Most advertising is local, at most national. Radio, television, van signs, posters, they all target a local at most a national audience. The web is not local, its global! When your website is online there are no limits. People from all over the world can stumble across your website. It can cost as little as £200 to get a website, £7 for a .co.uk domain and £30 for hosting. With all those potential customers up for grabs, NOW thats VALUE for money!

Benefit 2: A website enhances your company image

Getting a website is not a substitute for other advertising media, but can enhance your image in conjunction with other advertising methods. For example, if you advertise in YELL business pages, or in other online directories, you are often given a cheap or even free website link option. If you were a potential customer would you choose the company with the appealing website or the one without?

You can also add your web address to other advertising material like leaflets, business cards, van signs etc. Once again, the first place people look to find a product or service is the internet, if you do not have a website they may question your credibility and professionalism. Even worse they may find your competitor and contact them instead of you.

Benefit 3: A website creates a competitive edge

As mentioned earlier, having a website gives you access to a massive pool of potential customers, if you have not got one you are missing out on them. Further to this, many small businesses have not got a website, if you get one you already have an edge over them. Even if you only get a 4 visits a day, its 4 more potential customers than your competition.

Benefit 4: You can target potential customers 24/7

The web is available 24hrs a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Internet users can access your information regardless of whether or not it is business hours. You can reach current and potential customers 24 hours a day. Your website is working for you even when you are not!

Benefit 5: You will have a global audience

Your audience is not only local, not only national, but international too. Nowadays the first place, and often the only place, potential customers look for a product or service is on the web. If you don’t have a website your missing out on a massive pool of potential customers!

Benefit 6: A website will enhance your communication efforts

Think of a website as a business card. You meet a potential customer, you give them a business card, that business card can only hold so much information about your company, and it often gets chucked in the bin! BUT add your web address, to the business card, or to your van, or to your leaflets and your potential customers can go to your site and read all about you, your company, your services, read testimonials, view your work…….. the list is endless!

Furthermore, nowadays, most people prefer to make contact via email, as it is quick, easy, cheap and convenient, having a website means they can contact you easily, 24/7. You can even include interactive features, such as feedback forms and FAQ’s. Even better, people can sign up for a mailing list to receive information on your latest products and services, you can keep on selling even after the job is done!

Benefit 7: A website can be easily updated

If you choose a content managed website, you can update information quickly and easily to include changes to your products, services, special offers or contact details. These details cannot be changed on brochures, flyer’s, business cards or any other existing print based advertising medium – they will all have to be reprinted costing you and your business money. make your leaflet smaller with less info but a link to your website and save money on printing and reprinting.

Benefit 8: You can trade online

Your website can act as an online brochure, putting your products and services where people can see them. People can find your products, read all about them, even write reviews, and also contact you by email to make enquiries. You can even provide online order forms. You can have an online shopping cart where the customer proceeds to a virtual checkout and pays by credit or debit card. The savings can be huge!

Benefit 9: You can operate with lower stock levels

You can have pictures and descriptions of your products and services on your website. When you receive a request for a product you can order it in specifically for the customer. You don’t have to buy lots of stock upfront; money is not tied up with unsold stock which cost you money to buy and is costing you money to store.

Benefit 10: A website will make the most of impulse buying

People can look at your online information straight away when it suits them. People are impatient and impulsive and may not be prepared to wait for your other advertising efforts to reach them. For example, if they have to wait 3-4 days for your brochure to reach them through the post, by that time they could have found another product from somewhere else.

This small article points out just some of the main benefits of having a website for you or your business. If you would like a quick FREE online quote please feel free to go to my online website quote page and fill out the form!

You may also like to read:

• Do I need a small business website?
• The About Us Page for Small Business Websites
• Small Business Advertising
• Explore the Benefits of Virtual Private Server Technology
• How to Promote a Website

10 Benefits of a Website is a post from: Build Me A Fab Website