Do UK Businesses Really Need a Website?

As a business owner or Director, you will have probably asked yourself the following question numerous times. A website design
seems like an excellent promotional and marketing tool, but you wonder
if the effort and expense are worth the reward. With this in mind, here
are a few things to think about when deciding whether you need a
website to help promote your business.
Does my Business need an online presence?
Consider how enscounced the Internet is in modern lives. 500 million
people all over the world are on the world wide web (www), which means
that you can reach more customers there than in any storefront. Even if
you are a local business with no interest in expanding, your customers
are now likely to be dealing with a variety of online retailers. Why
not yours?
Do I need to socialise and network?

If you own or run a business, it's highly likely you can learn a lot
from other people in your industry. Furthermore, you may want to make
connections with suppliers, customers, and partners within your
community. Think of a website as a large brochure that you never have
to re-print. You can direct people to your website, where they can find
out more about your company, contact you, and generally interact with
your brand without any effort on your part.
Do prospects and customers need more information?

As stated earlier, prospects and customers may need information about
your company and your products. Your website is the likely place to
look for information such as opening hours, product range, contact
information and special offers. This is also the place to post details
of your products or services, how they differ from everyone elses and
why customers can benefit from dealing with you.
Would I benefit if my business opened 24/7?

Via your Internet site, you can post product information and FAQ's
for all to read, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, but this is not all.
You can also offer 24/7 sales or service booking mechanisms, from either
an online store or simple public diary. If you have a larger business,
paying someone to chat live with customers may pay off, as customers
more and more expect this kind of service from companies of all sizes.
Could I sell more products or services online?

In many cases, you will be surprised by how many people, even local
ones, are interested in buying from companies like yours on the
Internet. Offering a variety of services and goods on the Internet as
well as a few perks like local delivery can make you an institution in
your community without crowding your storefront.
Would I benefit from an IT savvy image?

If you are running a business in an industry in which having a
technologically savvy image is simply unimportant, then a website may be
overkill. However, many people are trying to look as competent as
possible in these areas to impress customers and colleagues. Having a
website is no longer impressive, but it is almost a necessity for
reaching audiences locally, nationally and worldwide.
Perceptant101, based in between Chesterfield and Sheffield, help
local businesses prosper on the web. For more information about our website design, web development, SEO and e-Learning services, please
visit our website - http://www.perceptant101.com

Author: Matthew Slinn / Posted: 27-04-2011