There are not many professions that could boast having an abundance of free time. Few would argue that lack of time is a major bugbear. And a large majority of that time is spent providing information to customers. If you could provide information to your existing customers or potential new customers, 24 hours a day, 365 days per year, would that not be a good thing? For so many businesses the idea of having a website is simply another drain on valuable resources and for this very reason it is usually last on the list of things to do. However, having a website in this day and age is essential. If you don’t have a website and your competitors do, then you are practically giving away business. Even if you are an established business that has never seen the need for a website, if your existing customer searches for you online and you’re not there, they will only find your competitors.
Time is money! Of that there is no doubt. With people working longer hours they don’t often get time during normal working hours to find what they are looking for. It’s at home in the evening after a days work that people sit down at their computer and search for what they need. Gone are the days of telephone directories, yellow pages and other such paper based directories. If someone is searching for a plumber, a carpenter, a builder; the internet is what they’ll be using. And if you don’t even have a website, then that potential customer will find their way to your competitors and be contacting them online to get what they need, all while sitting in the comfort of their home.
Having a website that provides all the information that a potential customer needs will encourage them to make contact in person. Information about products and services, and where to find them, as well as maps, directions of how to get there and opening hours, etc, all right there on the screen in front of them, give customers the confidence to make contact and become potential business.
Having a website that is up to date and provides essential information on your products and services is an essential tool in doing business today. Without it, you’re only helping your competitors expand their business.