Do You Need A Website?

Statistics show that 70.2% of Australians have Internet in the home. So if your customers are likely to be Australian it would be a good idea to have a website. If your customers are Australian businesses, that figure is pushed up to 98%.  And the trend is in the upwards direction.

90% of Australian small and medium businesses (up to 199 employees) now use broadband Internet connections, and 98% have some kind of Internet connection. 

emarketer.com - "Broadband Barometer 2006"

If you are still not convinced, then think about some of the advantages that a well-designed website will have for your business.

  • Be more competitive.If your competitors have a website and you do not, you will lose clients to them. In our experience, we have discovered there is limited serious competition online in many industries, so a smart, well-built website can give your business a huge advantage.
  • Be found easily. People can find your phone number online within seconds without having to thumb through the phone book.
  • Provide customer service.A relevant website can answer the same questions for you, over and over and over. It's a 24-hour, 365-days-a-year medium.  While you're asleep, out for dinner, or spending time with your family and friends, your website is hard at work.
  • Qualify customers.Potential clients visiting your website will know a bit more about you before they call.  This will reduce the number of unprofitable calls and eliminate the workload that would come from following up on unqualified prospects.
  • Expand your customer base. It's not called the "world wide web" for no reason! Although it might not happen immediately (or for every business) a website will be available to customers across the globe, and may result in international sales.
  • Get potential clients to like you. People do business with people they like. A website gives you a platform to share your expertise, experience, education and enthusiasm with potential clients.
  • Multiple ways to get in touch.Some people love to pick up the phone. Some people prefer to email. Make it easy for people to reach your business by including several different contact details.
  • Educate customers. A website can have detailed information all the services and products you offer. There’s simply not enough room on a business card, phone book advertisement or even a 30 second television commercial for an in-depth explanation of what you do.
  • Reduce printing and mail-out costs. A website enables full colour at no added expense, and you can get information to people without postage.
  • Professional image. The days of using a free email address are surely numbered. A email address attached to your domain adds a degree of professionalism, and also stops you from potentially being locked into your ISP until you get through that box of 1000 business cards.