Mike Batson owner of Webtek Design explains why a good website is a valuable component in a businesses success.
Its almost impossible to overestimate the importance of the World Wide Web in marketing services & products to consumers. The web is referred to for all kinds of information; according to Industry research 70 per cent of people would go online to gather information on products & services, rather than looking in the yellow pages or the local newspaper. This is why Webtek design is stressing the importance of a website in business however small the business is.
Talking to a local business owner a few days ago who has been established for 10 years, they were saying that after all that time they still have people go into their retail shop saying they had lived in the area all their life, but did not know they were there, until they had seen their website on the internet!
Mike has been visiting a lot of businesses lately and has been somewhat dismayed at some of the attitudes of business owners over the importance of having a website. The owners have been complaining of not having enough business despite having a large footfall where they are based. Their attitude has been that they do not need a website and are reluctant to pay for one, but they desperately need more business. They willingly pay for adverts to be printed and posted on their shop windows, but this does not necessarily gain more new customers, as the ones seeing it may already be existing customers!
Trying to explain that its those that don't realise they are there, is vital to gaining more business can be quite difficult even though they admit themselves that they use the internet to find out information. Its letting them know that's what other people are doing that is the key!
Mike has also come across businesses that are even ignoring off line marketing, in that they do not advertise their website on other marketing material ie flyers.
A website that is linked in all the right areas such as appropriate directories, and other links, will work well for any business, and its also amazing how many people in business do not realise the importance of this. Its no good having a website and doing nothing with it. People need to know its there, and be able to find it.
Once people find a website its also important that it is user friendly, easy to navigate, pleasing and calming to the eye, and fresh, with up to date news,opening times and pricing. Mike has lost count of the number of businesses who do not have their website updated regularly, and do not realise the value of paying for hosting where all this can be done for them at a good price to keep their business alive!
