Do I really need a website?

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Do I really need a website?
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I hear this question A LOT.

Many small businesses and one-woman- and one-man-bands ask themselves this question, and aren't sure if they *need* a website.

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"What will a website do for *me*?"
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Whether you live in a small town or a big city or on a yacht with a satellite connection, the reality is that more and more people turn to the internet for information. What do they look for? Anything and everything!

From how to make a martini to how to make a pair of shoes, to what's the capital of Uzbekistan ... to how to charm a snake - you can find all of this and much more at the click of a mouse.

We are getting used to getting instant answers to all our questions, so if someone wants to find a business like yours in their neck of the woods, chances are they might search for it on the internet.

They could go to one of the search engines like http://www.google.com, and type in the kind of business or service they're looking for, as well as the area they're looking in, for example:

gumboots wollongong

OK, so you're not sure what "wollongong" is - it's a town in Australia. It could just as easily be a search for :

stetson hat dallas

except it would be better to put stetson and hat together as a phrase like this:

"stetson hat" dallas

If you have a business which sells gumboots in Wollongong, could you be found on the internet? If you have a website, chances are pretty high! If not, the person searching might find the *other* 5 stores in Wollongong which sell gumboots. Even though the shops are closed for the night, this person might only have time to search after business hours when they get home.

The person can then check out the *other* 5 websites, look at their prices, and products, and will choose *emotionally* by what they see on those websites. They may choose the friendliest site which appeals to a shopper, rather than look just like a brochure with lots of photos. They may choose the website which offers a *free gift* with purchase - which could be something related to the all weather gumboots, even an information sheet about the care and cleaning. People like to get free gifts.

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"So - where does this leave *me* and my store/products/services?"
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Hmmmm. You guessed it.

The person didn't even *find you* on the internet, so they don't know you exist.

They may not live in your town, they might even live overseas and want to order the gumboots as a present for their uncle who lives on a farm outside Wollongong.

What a shame you didn't have a website so they could find you, too!

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The scenario above is a simple one,
but highlights one of the benefits of having a website.
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:::::: What other reasons are there to think of having a website? ::::::

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REACH A WIDER AUDIENCE
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* you may not need shoppers from the other side of the world, but it would be nice to be accessible to the potentially thousands of customers in your own target location

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SAVING MONEY
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* the internet is one of the least expensive ways to advertise you or your business

* where else can you produce a *full colour brochure* which you can change every day if you want to - at no extra cost?

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CUSTOMER SERVICE
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* you can have a Frequently Asked Questions page on your website, and also give details on how locals can find your store and let them know when you will be open for service to answer their queries

* there's no *hard sell* when customers go to your site - they might prefer to read all about your business before they venture into your office, or car yard, or shop

* customers might feel a sense of comfort knowing that you are willing to advertise yourself online - after all you have put your business name and all contact details online for everyone to see; this could give them confidence to trust you

* having a website often gives your business the credibility it might not otherwise have received; it gives the impression that you have a quality business

* the website also shows your potential customers that you're doing business in the 21st Century ... on the internet.

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WEBSITE PROVIDES INFORMATION & SAVES MONEY
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* you can give the history of your business, which gives the potential customer confidence in your ability to provide products and services

* your history will show you are not a fly-by-night organisation

* show testimonials from satisfied customers - people love reading true testimonials!

* the ease with which you can change and update your information is incredible, and like no other form of advertising ever before!

* use a print ad or radio spot to send visitors to your webite, where they can read about your products, sale items [each week, month etc].

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"Is there any downside to having a website?"
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* costs - yes, this is the number one factor which concerns all potential website owners

* getting a professional to design your website could cost from $30-100 per hour

* getting a professional to update your website could cost from $30-100 per hour

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"What will it *really* cost to get a website?"
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*1* you will need a Dial-Up Internet Account with an Internet Service Provider [ISP]; this will allow you to dial a phone number to access the internet. You will also receive an emal name which will match the name of the ISP. You might have broadband instead [which means your computer is online 24/7 and you don't need to dial-in anymore]

*2* you will need a domain name [website name, like your business name] which you can buy from a domain name provider

*3* you'll need to pay *hosting fees* [like paying rent on a shop], monthly or yearly, anywhere from $15-$50 per month

*4* you'll need to get the website designed, costing from $500 - $5,000+ depending on the size and type of website you need, including all the features you expect

*5* you'll need to have someone do the updates and changes to your site, which could cost from $30-100 per hour [depending on where you live]

:::::: Summary ::::::
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ISP :: provides dial-up or broadband access to internet
Domain :: buy a domain from any domain reseller
Hosting :: pay hosting [rent] for where your site will *live* online
Website :: get it designed or do it yourself
Updates :: pay someone or do it yourself

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HOT TIP!
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You can purchase most of these services through your ISP, or from *several* different companies, which is quite normal; many people shop around for the best price on hosting, then go elsewhere for their domain name, and a different company again who might provide their dial-up or broadband access, and then get the site designed by a website design company

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*Are there any alternatives?*
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Yes, there are other options.

* do a computer course and learn how to design a website
* do a computer course and learn how to upload websites to the internet
* buy website templates [preformatted web pages] , make your own changes, and learn how to *upload* the pages to your website on the hosting server
* get a free website at one of the online services providing this. Caution! Free websites have limitations and generally show advertising on every one of your webpages - they do not show a professional website name
* use a website builder like Build A Website Tonight

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Easy links
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Plan your website
http://www.buildawebsitetonight.com/how-to-plan-a-website.html

Buy a domain name
http://www.BuildAWebsiteTonight.com/buy-a-domain.html

Build your own website online
http://www.buildawebsitetonight.com

Help with grammar & apostrophes
http://www.HumbleApostrophe.com
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You now have more info on how to go about getting your own website - let me know when it's been launched, I'd love to see it!

About the Author

© Teena Hughes is the Director of BuildAWebsiteTonight.com, a website where you can build your own site online - with no skill - no fear - with no additional costs to update your site. Teena has been involved in the I.T. industry for over twenty years and has written many articles and ebooks, and loves to help people get their business started.

http://www.BuildAWebsiteTonight.com

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