Monday, September 14, 2009

Search Marketing Series - Why Your Business Needs a Website

By D. K. Palmer

The Internet has forever changed customer shopping and purchasing behavior. 74% of adults in the US now use the Internet. Research says 81% of web visitors search for information online about a service or product they are considering buying. Search engines have become purchasing decision engines. Driving this trend are time savings and convenience.

You need a website online because 1) Buyers are online looking for your products and services. They'll find them too. But if you're not online someone else will sell to those buyers. 2) Those businesses that are online are your competitors. Until you have a website, you can't compete with them at all.

A Business Website Provides Advantages 1) Larger Customer Base - Having an online presence opens up new markets. Many who research and purchase online are probably not located nearby. They might be halfway around the world. The Internet can help connect those customers, and many others, to your business.

2) Increased Presence - A website extends your business hours. The website is open 24/7 365 days a year. Contact information, address, directions, hours of operation, and other company information is always available. Information about specific products and services your business offers is always available. This information drives purchasing decisions.

Better Communication - Many different methods of communication become available with a website. Online forms e-mail and blogs are common ways to engage customers in a conversation. Using these tools a smart business owner can ask questions, get feedback, and create surveys and polls.

4) Low-Cost Marketing - Web pages may be built quickly and inexpensively. They can offer more information in more formats than traditional print media. Consider the possibility of adding audio, video or an unlimited number of photos to your sales and marketing effort. Updates can also be completed quickly and easily. Traditional marketing campaigns can't compete with the scope and low cost of a website.

The simple existence of a website guarantees neither web traffic nor sales. In nearly all cases a process called "optimization" is required to ensure the visibility of the website in the search engines. Higher rankings in the search engine results leads directly to higher traffic, and subsequent sales.

About the Author:

No comments: