Raven's Work From Home Resources
You Too Should Have a Website
You Too Should Have a Website
Should you have a website for your business? Sure, why shouldn't you? Obvoiusly you *use* the internet or you wouldn't be here. So do millions of other people. If you have a website your customer base suddenly becomes much larger, even if you are only a local presence. There are many people who are more familiar with the 'net than they are with phone books and there are many who would rather look up a business or service they need while checking their email rather than whipping out a bulky directory. These folks are numerous, most likely good customers/clients and will not find you if you are not on the 'net.
The Benefits
Having a website oddly creates credibility for the shadiest sham artists (online scams and pyramid schemes) among us. If it can do that for them, it will do as much for a legitimate enterprise such as your own.
Websites not only provide virtual marketplaces for spectacular products, they provide the business owners with a means of building contacts and clients. Someone interested in a product and service has searched and found you. Even if they do not order anything or request your services right off, you can still build a client base right now. Having a simple online form for them to request to be notified "when the site is updated" via entering their email address and name is very effective, especially if you regularly add new content or products/services. Also useful is a simple contact page or section where your email and/or phone number is available for clients or customers to use will help them contact you easily.
As you cruise around the 'net you may find websites which offer services or products complimentary to your own. For example, I might cross link with a film developer, an art shop which offers custom framing, a DIY site which gives instructions on how to accessorise your home like a pro and sells books on the topic, a camera store or repair shop. Of course I would not cross link with another photographer unless they provide service I do not, but I would gladly crosslink to those who provide services I use, or services my customers would be interested in if they have purchased one of my landscapes.
You can actively seek these situations and you can also have a place on your page where you offer a "banner exchange." Someone in a complimentary business might click on this and you two can "recommend" each other. Usually this sort of thing is done for free and, if it does nothing else...it increases your ratings in the search engines.
Emailing and surfing costs your clients and customers very little as does maintaining your website once it is up. Once a customer in Turkey orders from a company in the US, the US company now has that customer's information. Next time a product is added, it costs nothing to email Turkey with notification that new products have been added. An individual in Spain can request a custom made afghan while the seller sleeps and the seller can reply while the spaniard sleeps. With a web presence, Avon representatives can send products anywhere...and you can do these things also. In addition, international companies seeking freelance writers and artists or affiliates can find you if you have a website. They won't if you do not unless you are already internationally famous (and this is unlikely if you are reading my site).
Adding your website to your email signature means that suddenly you are passing out virutal business cards to anyone you email. They do not have to click on the link, thus you have not invaded anyone's personal privacy or space. If you post on bulliten boards or discussion lists, these people also would have access to your site as would anyone your post gets forwarded to. Again, it is their choice to investigate and you should have offended no one, and you've spent nothing to have your website mentioned to possibly hundreds of people. If you compound this with a website optimised with solid tag and site listing procedures, many of the people who want to know about your product or services will find you and again, you've bothered no one.
It is possible that you will become tired of explaining what your company does and what products you offer. Handing people a card with your website listing and telling them to look it over at their lesiure and get back to you afterward can, in the right circumstances, save you time and energy. People appreciate knowing they can review things at their own pace and you like the fact that they already know that thatching is NOT part of the standard lawn care package before they call you.
You can also have similar information in a text document. In the right circumstances you can say "Let me take your email address and I'll zip you the information you need as soon as I get back to my desk. This way you can see it and have it forever" and it will be beneficial to both you and your prospective customer/client. Type it once, use it millions of times.
Having a website is a useful tool to promote your business and it need not cost a lot. You can have a free website (if you do not sell directly on this site) or you can spend a little more from a service such as Yahoo or GoDaddy.
If you sell items but do not want to do so online because of the start up costs, it would still benefit you to have a web presence. People can request a catalogue or pricelist from you once they've been 'sold' on your product online. You can then add the shopping cart technology as your business expands as needed. Your site host will most likely be able to upgrade your site with little problem.
Consider your webpage to be a virtual receptionist. This venue allows you to provide your clients and customers a virtual tour of your business. It will allow them to see what you have to offer, give some personal information, offer catalogues and service lists, compile a list of clients, suppliers, customers or associates and does so to a worldwide audience. Webpages are very reasonable - I highly recommend that you have one.
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welcome the mail and will answer any questions you desire to ask me.