Why should I put my business online? Well, there are several reasons why you should.
Firstly, it is a great 'connection point' between you and your customers or partners. They can visit your website whenever it suits them to find out more about you, your products, ordering, or just more information. Previously they would have had to physically visit you or use the phone and actually talk to you. They may contact you with questions, complaints, recommendations or just to gauge how helpful / efficient you are at all times without talking to you or be face to face with you.
Its another way to respond, communicate and interact with you. It focuses on the customer and their needs and eliminates pushy seller from the process. This level of anonymity invites customer to get what they want more than ever before, or
go somewhere else where they will get it.
Secondly, the Internet allows customers to shop around much easier and cheaper than ever before. It's so easy to research and buy a product sold in another country, as it is to make it an in your own country and all for the cost of a local call. Time zones are largely irrelevant on the Internet.
Thirdly, a website is quite flexible and can be designed from scratch specifically for your business and customers, regardless of what business you are in and the size of your business.
Fourth, a low price. You can build a website to meet your budget.
What do you need to do?
Get a web address - often called a domain name / URL. When someone types in your URL, i.e. www.youraddress.com in their Internet enabled computer, they see your website. Get a name that is easily remembered by your customers. You must renew it periodically to keep the name.
Get some webspace - often called hosting. One company (host) will rent you space on their computer. To save your site in that space. Your URL will point here, so when the URL is written by the customer, they will be directed to your website automatically. Make sure you get a quick and reliable host, and therefore your website is always accessible and fast. Read host reviews or ask people you know to recommend a host.
Research - before we do some research. Look at other sites, styles, navigation, content, features, etc. What do you think? What do you like? What do your customers want? What do they want? What are your competitors doing? Aren’t what do they do? Set some clear goals for your site. Write them down in order of priority and work towards them throughout the project.
Content - The most important of all. Whether its text, images, functions, data or anything else, spend some time to get it right. It must of course all meet your clear objectives.
Design and build your website - you can do this themselves, but we don’t recommend it unless you are sure you can do it well and has enough time to do it. Hire someone to do it all for you. Make sure you are happy to deal with them and that they don’t just want to design a beautiful website for their portfolio. They should make all the right noises about how the site will fit into your business and how your customers will benefit from it. Again, please clear objectives.
Evaluation - check your site meets all your goals. Check everything works as it should and is easy to understand and use by your customers. Do you need to make improvements / changes?
Publish - put your new website in your web space. Congratulations on your business are online!
Finally, review your site first, and then regularly to ensure it still meets your customers, and to see whether it can be improved or further developed.
Good luck!
