Top 10 Reasons Why Your Business Needs a Website
1. Your Business is Open to the World 24/7, 365 Days
a Year
Unlike your company's office that may be open from 8-5, Monday thru
Friday, your company 's website is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a
year. There are many different time zones that may affect your
business, which is why being on the web makes it time convenient
for everyone.
2. It's Your Online Brochure / Catalog That Can Be Changed at
Anytime
A website is easier, cheaper and quicker to update than print
material. Its' capacities are almost limitless which allow you to
provide users with more comprehensive information. This will save
you money on printing and distribution costs as well.
3. Reach New Markets with a Global Audience
On the Internet, you aren't that local little business anymore. You
have the potential to be seen by millions across the globe. Did you
ever think your company would have the possibility of doing
business around the world? Well, now you can. Without a doubt, the
Internet is the most cost effective way to trade nationally and
internationally.
4. Improved Customer Service
By providing answers to questions on your website, sales and
information requests can be processed automatically and
immediately, whether someone is in the office or not. Online forms
can be used to allow customers to request quotations or ask further
information. Save costs by allowing users to download invoices,
proposals and important documents.
5. Present a Professional Image
For a small business, a well-designed web site is a great way of
instilling confidence and looking bigger than you actually are. In
this day in age, customers assume that you already have a website.
By now, your primary competitors probably already have a presence
on the Internet. If they do, keep up with them and find ways to
make yours better.
6. Sell Your Products
Why pay expensive rent, overhead, electric bills, and all the other
costs that go along with owning a bricks-n-mortar business? Selling
in cyberspace is much cheaper and a good way to supplement your
offline business. Providing secure online ordering is very
affordable for even the smallest businesses.
7. Promote Your Services
Lawyers, doctors, financial consultants, entertainers, realtors and
all service oriented businesses should let customers know that they
have a choice. Millions of users are referring to the web and are
using company's websites to make major decisions when they need a
specialized service.
8. Gather Information and Generate Valuable Leads
You can gather information about your customers and potential
customers by using forms and surveys. Rather than going out and
getting leads, let them come to you. This is a great tool for
prospecting targeted customers looking to use your products and
services.
9. Provides Instant Gratification
People are busy and don't like to wait for information. Give them
what they want, when they want it. If your product is suitable,
offer them free samples or trials to download. This includes
pictures, brochures, software, videos, Power Point slides, music
and more.
10. Great Recruiting Tool
Whether you are looking for talent or posting job opportunities
with your company, your website is a great recruiting tool for
building your business.
Top 10 Reasons Why Your Business Needs a Social Media
Strategy
1. It Finds Your Customers
Companies using traditional marketing methods (e.g. surveys, focus
groups, test marketing) often spend millions to locate their target
markets. Where are the people most likely to buy your products and
services? Establishing a social media strategy will help you see
where potential customers are hanging out. You can search for
related groups and Fan Pages through Facebook, start accounts on
social bookmarking sites such as Digg or StumbleUpon, and check on
who is linking to your site to find out who's interested.
2. It Tells You What They Like
…and what they don't like. Social media gives businesses on small
budgets the ability to find out what people are saying about them
(and others) in their industry, without paying large sums on market
research. With your ear to the ground on social media, you'll be
the first to know if your product is working or if changes need to
be made. Does your brand need a makeover? You'll find out here
first.
3. It Reveals Their Interests
Regardless of what people are saying about you, it's important to
know what they're talking about in general. What motivates them?
What are their issues? In every industry, there are existing
conversations going on. A social media strategy will allow you to
get in on these conversations so that you can offer solutions, push
buttons, and get people talking.
4. It Introduces Your Brand
Is your company new? Or has it been around awhile but hasn't been
using social media? Starting a fan page on Facebook and a business
account with Twitter is sort of like moving into a new
neighborhood. You can introduce yourself, hold get-togethers and
talk about topics of interest. Friends and followers will soon
start inviting their friends over to see what's going on. This is
an effective way to make the connections that lead to sales.
5. It Expands Your Reach
Even an established brand may be missing out on potential
customers. Through social media, you can find out what online
communities your existing customers belong to. These places can
become portals to a larger audience for your products and services.
And don't forget that your customers can spread the word for you to
these communities. Interest them with compelling and useful
content, contests and giveaways, etc. They'll soon be telling their
friends and colleagues to check you out.
6. It Gives You Feedback
A big advantage to using social media is the "give and take" built
into it. While large corporations are paying people to give them
feedback, you can invite comments and opinions through your blog
posts and fan pages for free. Then, channel them into improving
your products, your brand image, etc. When you listen and respond
to your customers' opinions, suggestions and even criticisms, they
start to feel invested in you.
7. It Provides A Test Audience
No company wants to throw a new product or concept out there
without first testing it out. You can tap into your pool of social
media groupies to find those willing to test out your ideas and
give you valuable feedback before you launch. Your social media
pages offer places where people interested in your ideas are
already gathered, so you don't have to take a "hit or miss"
approach to beta testing.
8. It Showcases Your Company's Personality
Engaging through social media lends itself to more personal contact
with customers. You can avoid being a faceless, impersonal
storefront by letting people know who you are. Commenting, posting
blogs and inviting conversation allow customers to connect with you
and your brand. This builds stronger relationships over time.
9. It Makes You Accessible
Fans, friends, and followers have direct access to you. Unlike the
pre-social media days, when consumers often had to deal with
companies that they perceived as unreachable, you can quickly
respond to your customers' problems and frustrations before they
balloon into a big mess. Likewise, being able to personally respond
to positive feedback strengthens bonds by making people feel that
their opinions matter.
10. It Lets You Share
Through social media, you can create all kinds of content and post
it in one place. Make videos, write articles, and post blogs and
podcasts to your pages, where everyone can access them. You can
communicate in fun and inventive ways because there are no rules
for how to best reach your audience, so you can mix it up and
appeal to everyone. Sharing also gets people to share back, and
gives you access to resources and links that could become
invaluable to you.