Blog post
Small
Offline Businesses – Do They Really Need A Website?
Many small
businesses now run entirely online selling products and services to customers across the globe. However, for businesses such as cafés and crèches that will
always operate offline, is a website really necessary? The answer is that
websites are not only becoming vital to maintain your business, but they also offer
new opportunities for growth.
Changing
Sources of Information
The sheer ease that
the internet has brought to gathering information is making it an often-used
tool by people from all walks of life. Even the most technophobic people know
how to do a Google search. With smartphones making web access on the go a
reality, this use of the internet for information seeking is only going to
grow. Your regular customers are likely to turn to the internet if they want to
find out your phone number or opening hours, or to look for your website address
if they want to recommend you to a friend. If you lack a website you are simply
making it more difficult for them, increasing the chances they will switch to
your competition.
Changing
Uses of Information
The easy
availability of information that the internet has brought is also bringing
changes in how people use information. People are making increasing use of
research to both find out what their options are and narrow down their choices
before they ever make contact with a business. People are no longer satisfied
with calling your business or visiting your premises to enquire about your
services and so on. They expect to be able to access that information as and
when they please. If you can only inform potential customers of what you offer
during your business hours you are missing out on a large section of potential
business.
Added
Legitimacy
As a business owner
you already know just how important perception is to the success of your
business. With websites now so common and expected, not having one is
considered to be an automatic black mark by some consumers. Some people assume
that a business without a website cannot have been in business for very long,
while others see them as hopelessly old-fashioned – not the kind of impression
that you will wish to give!
It is important to
realize that a website is not simply something that you need to have to keep
your business steady. It can also be used to grow your business, as it offers
new marketing opportunities, service options and better ways to serve your
customers. A better question than whether or not you need a website is exactly
how you can use the opportunities that a website brings.