Why do I need a Web Site?

Normally, the worst reason for doing anything is "because everyone else is..."

However, if you're marketing a product or service and you are NOT advertising where your competition is, you'll find yourself left behind very suddenly. In the past, when your customers were looking for a product or service, their easiest option would be to pull out the Yellow Pages to search for a store or company in their area that provided the product or service they were in need of. Sometimes this supplied a name and phone number. Sometimes, an address. On more rare occasions, a picture advertisement with a list of services or products. With the Internet today, that same customer can go to a search engine or index and be presented with a list of businesses which fit their needs, with links to their web pages. Those web pages are loaded with all the information necessary to make an informed choice -- all without ever having to leave the house or office.

Simply put, not having a web site will soon be like not having a listing in Yellow Pages. In the Web world, this is referred to as a "corporate presence." Even if your best business comes by word-of-mouth, your potential customers may want to check you out. A well-designed, professional web site can give you added visibility and credibility. Especially if you provide a public service and your goal is to get information to a large number of people almost instantaneously. Additionally, the cost of maintaining a Web site is probably the most cost effective advertising you'll ever do.

As someone said of the web, "There's no point in ignoring it, it's as inevitable as the telephone".

There are lots of reasons why you should at least consider having a website, and a few of them are set out here.