by Debs Greasley

Created on: January 18, 2010

When asked if a small business should have a website, you will find most experts and consultants would say this: If you have a business, you should have a website. No question about it. 

Even if you're not planning on selling on line, a well-crafted site is essential for any business. You should, at the very least have a presence on the web so that customers, potential employees, business partners and perhaps even investors can quickly and easily find out more about your business and the products or services you have to offer.

But why?

There are many reasons why you should consider having a website. Here are some of the main things a website can do for you or your business:

It can generate awareness of your company
It can advertise your company and / or product
It can sell products / services online
It can help you share your knowledge with your customers
It can help improve your customer services and support by linking to your customer database
It can improve communication with your customer base through regular newsletters and electronic mailings
You can gain competitive advantage by collecting as much information from your customers and visitors as possible
It can provide internal information and services for your company

In South Africa, people who were once oblivious to the web are now complete converts, surfing the web daily, accessing information and purchasing products and services cheaper, faster and more reliably than ever. As consumer behaviour changes, so does business. That means that as a business, you must change.

The benefits of having a website are numerous. Here are some of the main ones in no particular order.

It will give you the competitive edge and can level the playing field between small business and corporations
It will be an effective method of advertising / marketing and can be used side by side with more traditional marketing efforts
It will enhance your credibility in your industry
It will enhance your communication efforts
It will be available around the clock – all hours are business hours
Websites are multi-taskers – they can be used providing information, as a marketing tool, or an e-commerce tool to drive sales
You will be able to reach a global audience
The website can be easily updated and kept up to date
You will be able to trade on line

As someone said of the web: “There’s no point in ignoring it, it is as inevitable as the telephone.”

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