Small Business Websites

Are You Harnessing the Power of the Internet?

My business does not need a website!

This is a statement I come across a lot when dealing with small businesses such as the local organic fruit and vegetable store or the doctor's surgery around the corner. These business owners claim that their businesses are too small for small business websites, perhaps only consisting of 1-3 staff, and their customers are all locals who know they are there anyway.

My immediate reaction to this is if you have a business, you SHOULD have a website. No question about it. Irrespective of whether your customers walk in off the street or you advertise in the local newspapers. I ask them "what happens if your customers want to know your hours of operation and for some reason cannot use the phone (disabilty, sickness etc) and are forced to wait in a queue for 10 minutes to be attended to or even worse are not answered at all because both of your staff members are busy with customers"?

Even if you don't sell anything online a website can serve a purpose other than just advertisng opening hours and product range that is stocked in the store. It can also be an opportunity to develop a deeper relationship with existing customers and to offer more information about the business that customers may not be aware of or would never think of asking but could be helpful to them and increase sales in the long run. For instance say you run an organic food store you could have a page on the benefits of organic food and provide recipies for smoothies and fruit juices. Or you are a financial planner and have a page of tips on investing or reducing tax.

It doesn't even need to come down to being a physical product. Any business can increase their bottom line just by providing information which may not be available to them when they walk into the store or place of business regardless of whether they 'sell' a product as such. It may be a bit premature dismissing your business as not being able to 'sell' online or even needing an online presence.

In actual fact there is very little that can't be sold online. Right now there are countless millions of people online who are not just buying things such as books and computers, to music but are looking for information or electronic products which can be instantly downloaded. If it exists it can probably be sold online.

Highly regarded internet research groups such as Jupiter predict that the number of people online will grow at a rate of 30% to 50% over the next few years. This fact alone should be enough to persuade you that your small business should have a website. But it is not enough to just have a website. You need to have a website that your local customers will be able to find and not just a site that looks good but doesn't get found by the search engines. You can have the flashiest looking site but if people are not visiting your website you may as well not have one. But hey being a business owner you know that already!

Consider the fact that many consumers do their research online BEFORE going to the outlet and making their purchase. It is estimated that at least 60% of prospective BMW owners have researched the car they wanted online before going to the dealership and buying. Gone are the days when a person walks in off the street, kicks a few tires and hands over $100,000 for a flashy new BMW!

It doesn't matter if you are a small business with only 2 or 3 people. If you don't have a website, you're losing business to your competitors who may already be harnessing the internet.

A website can also be used to establish credibility and improve the reoutation of the business. It is an essential part of any business and yours is no different...Anyhoodles provide a range of Small Business Website Packages, and we are happy to spend an hour discussing your specific needs.

Contact us on 1300 845 616 during business hours.

Back to Home from Small Business Websites