Do I need a website?
A website will generate leads, retain clients and save on costs. Not having a website is a big gap in your marketing ability. Previously, people referred to The Golden Pages, today, more and more people are using The Internet to search for information, to find a phone number or address, catalogues and price lists, directions, colour photos of products and more, all without leaving the house.
Compete in a level playing field
Websites level the playing field, allowing you to compete equally with much larger businesses.
Websites are now deemed stronger than business cards.
Your current and potential clients are already using The Internet - over half the Irish population has an Internet connection.
A website can be viewed worldwide 24/7/52 weeks of the year.
A website is huge value for money giving more information and more detail than any other form of advertising.
Net-savvy customers
Customers are increasingly net-savvy and are doing more and more research online before calling a company.
A website can be updated in minutes - even getting a web developer to do this is cheaper than re-printing literature.
By putting items like student handbooks, employee guides, and flyers online, you can save an enormous amount of money. Combine this with a web-friendly email- marketing program and you can save thousands of euros each year. You can also improve on the quality of your handouts and flyers by using full colour and photographs, rather than the black and white clip art we often see.
A website can be tailor-made i.e. with automated email replies, with documents that can be downloaded, instant texts, it can be a way of capturing a client by having a question and answer page.
You can convey your business' image, brand & philosophy.
A website can be monitored - you get real visibility on return on investment.
Research
Many people today look at the existence of a website as a ‘validation of legitimacy', much as we often look for the acceptance of credit cards. People who are reluctant to call can, at their leisure, visit your site and see what you offer. This means if its 3am on a Sunday, they can get some information. A well designed website will have an easy means of them contacting you, perhaps a sign up form they can fill out to schedule a visit or request additional information.
A website can also be used by existing clients to generate referrals.
A website is a 24 hour a day salesperson. Being able to learn more about your business will often turn a browser into someone who makes that phone call, or stops in to visit. Having a website puts you ahead of the competition. There's no delay in customers getting information on your products or services. Imagine if your competitor has information online, and the best you can do is send a brochure overnight. A day is a long time for that potential customer to form an opinion.
Having a website is an excellent way to generate new business, keep and grow existing clientele, save money and improve your bottom line. It is available rain or shine, night or day, helping you to grow your business.
With more and more people each year using The Internet, a website has become a requirement of business, much as a phone and credit card acceptance did in the past.
