When I call on businesses offering my web design and hosting services, the first question I ask, naturally, is Does your business have a web site? If not, then I ask for the person in charge of these things (for my niche, usually the owner) and give my pitch.
It’s 2006, so you would think that they would jump, but it’s not that easy. The small independent businesses that don’t have web sites (and there are a bunch!) would have had one already, if they thought they needed one.
It’s my belief that businesses offering any product or service needs to have some sort of presence online. Newspaper and magazine readership is down. There are 500 television channels in some markets, and commercial-free satellite radio also. The conventional ways to advertise are not reaching as many people. Your new customers are online, shopping, looking for something to do, or a new place to go. They get addresses, phone numbers, coupons, menus, and can even make purchases without walking through the door of your business. Although I could list several reasons why your business needs a web site, I’ll stick with the big three.
Affordable advertising...