Do I need a website?
The answer will usually depend upon the type of product or service offered and what the business is trying to achieve. Some products/services are more suited to the web than others. Plus, a well designed website can be a superb tool for communicating with customers, prospective customers, suppliers and the wider community.
For most service businesses, I'd say "Yes, you do need a website."
There are many ways to be 'on the net', with ISP's, web designers and web hosting companies offering businesses many options in how this can be achieved. However there are also advertising and sponsorship opportunities that may be cost effective for businesses, either through web sites or email communication.
The Internet does lure businesses with the potential of trading on a larger scale. It is up to individual business operators to decide how important this opportunity is for them. If you are thinking about creating or expanding your website it is suggested you focus on being either a major force in your local/regional area, or gear up for servicing a national or global market.
If you decide to join the growing number of businesses using a website, you must also give thought to the type of site you will use. Apart from the 'look' of the site, content and functionality must be considered.
Your options
Website options range from a single page (long or short) with contact details, to informational sites and brochure-ware layouts that incorporate basic product images and descriptions. At the top end are full scale ecommerce sites that process credit card payments online, track your previous purchases, allow interactivity with the site and other customers, and provide personal login facilities to access data.
In many cases the development costs for websites with custom built shopping carts, custom product database and online payment capability starts at around $5,000. For larger sites requiring complex coding and special functionality it's easy to go over this figure.
However, there are now less expensive options available, including the use of Content Management Systems (CMS). A CMS makes it easy to create a site and make changes. No special programming knowledge is required. The CMS interface is very much like using a word processor although you may need help on creating graphics or custom logic to the site.
Marketing your website
Once you have your website up and running, you also need to make sure it is found on search engines, such as Google. It's a fact that for many businesses traffic from search engines is extremely important, with up to 80% of internet users finding sites through search engines.
Online marketing includes:
- Optimizing your site to achieve high search engine rankings.
- Pay-per-click ad's on search engines (e.g. Google and MSN).
If you are ready and want to create your Web presence, we can help you accomplish your online objectives.
Visit our Miami Web Design Services page for more further information. If you simply need information, we are here to help you, contact us through our online form or call us at (305) 283-5037.
We are a Miami Web Design Company helping small Businesses to create effective websites.