There’s probably a disconnect in writing about having a web presence on an electronic medium since people who don’t have one, probably aren’t reading blogs but I’m writing it anyway. Because it’s no longer a nice to have. It’s a necessity for all businesses. Here’s why:
Why Your Business Needs a Web Presence
I’m leaving this as general as possible. While I advocate a website because you own the property and can do what you’d like with it, if all you want to do in the beginning is a Facebook business page, so be it. But you need to be visible online.
It’s Not About Size, It’s About Reach
If you have all the customers you want or need, you can argue with me about the importance of an online presence, but if there’s room to grow your business, online is where you’re going to do it. Online can be the difference between limiting your business to the people who drive by and doing business around the world.
Even local people turn to online resources as often as they do brick-and-mortar. Last year the National Retail Federation estimated that more Americans shopped online over the long Thanksgiving weekend than they did in stores. There is no business too small for an online presence and the cost to set one up is small. It’s free if you start only on social media.
No Online Presence, No Mobile Customers
Anyone in sales knows the best time to reach someone is when they are “in the mood” or looking for your product or service. A growing percentage of consumers are using mobile phones to look up businesses as they’re needed. If you don’t have an online presence, you are being passed up for easy sales because you’re nowhere to be found.
You’re Only Open When You’re Open
No matter how many hours you’re open, unless you run 24×7, at some point you will be closed or your sales people will be at home. When you are and if you don’t have an online presence, you aren’t winning over any new customers. However, if someone is online and searching for what you sell, if you have an online presence (and you rank highly) your “receptionist” is always on. Your site, or social media sites, can attract customers even when your business doors are closed. An online presence supports your brand round-the-clock and you don’t even have to pay a shift differential.
An online presence is not about technology and being good or bad at it. It’s a business necessity. Would you refuse to have a phone for your business? Of course not. The Internet is how a lot of people choose to communicate. If you’re not there, you’re not part of the conversation, and you’re losing sales.
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