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Why do I need a small business website? |   |
Brochure
Even if your company does not conduct any business online, with so many potential clients now web-enabled, you should treat your website as an online brochure. Even a simple website can provide clients with an overview of your business, your key services / products, and contact details. How many times have you looked up a company to find directions to their offices, for example?
Low Cost
You can set up a simple website for a few hundred pounds, and annual hosting on a shared web server will set you back less than £100. You may need to pay someone to help you with site updates if you have no in-house technical expertise, but the costs really are very low compared to other business expenses.
Global Reach
The very nature of the World Wide Web is that there are no boundaries. In many cases, small businesses may have a local customer base, but others (particularly those who're selling products online) will instantly gain a global audience for their wares.
Easy to Update
Rather than re-printing thousands of product brochures, or company guides, you can update your company information in minutes via a website, saving a lot of time and money. If you use a CMS (Content Management System), you don’t need to have any technical knowledge in order to update your website, and write new content.
Test New Products & Services
A website is the perfect place to test new ideas. You might want to test different product descriptions to see which perform best in your online store, or try different pricing structures for the services you provide. You can make changes to your site instantly – keep what works well, and change things which don’t – rapidly, and with minimal cost.
Online 24/7
Your small business website will be available 24/7, 365 days a year. A potential client can find out more about your company, or simply find out a contact email address at any time of day. If you are selling online, customers can be placing orders while you're asleep!
Sell Online
Probably the main beneficiaries of the web are companies who sell products - particularly those which can be easily shipped. There are massive financial and time benefits to be had from selling online. You can outsource your entire transaction process for pennies (to companies such as Paypal and Worldpay), or seamlessly integrate your "sales window" with global giants such as eBay. You can set up your own online shop for a few hundred pounds.
Save Money
Moving your business (or just a part of it) online will save you money. The savings can be as small as the difference between corresponding with clients via email, compared to the cost of a landline call. If you spend time on web marketing, you can also gain new customers via search engines (such as Google and Yahoo!) – at minimal cost.
Win-Win
For some small businesses, going online could result in serious efficiency and financial benefits. For many others it can simply provide potential clients with another way of finding out about your company and how to get in touch. You cannot lose by having a website for your business.
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Most of the UK's small businesses will be using 'cloud software' solutions in some form by the end of 2010 according to a new survey, as the downturn forces companies to look for alternatives to the more expensive traditional software. [April 14, 2009]
There are many benefits for businesses of all size in online collaboration - tasks can be completed more quickly, remote colleagues can share knowledge and travel expenses can be reduced. What can businesses do to ensure their communications remain secure? [March 18, 2009]
In the technology world, major players such as Google and IBM are maximising their use of Cloud Computing – but what is it, and importantly how can it help small businesses? [March 6, 2009]
Cloud computing uses the vast technology resources of the web to host and deliver software applications to web users, and enables them to store data. We look at how cloud computing and services have changed the way we use the web and how they could help businesses. [February 9, 2009]
Unless your business keeps you in the office all day, you need to access email on the move. It’s not just a bind; you’ll find the added advantage that you can use odd moments during the day, such as 10 minutes before a sales appointment, to clear new email messages. Here's a guide to the mobile email options available to small companies. [January 20, 2009]
A new survey shows that businesses that utilise the power of the Internet benefit from an uplift in sales. For the unconvinced, we've listed some compelling reasons why all small businesses would benefit from having a web presence. [November 18, 2008]
For many small businesses the thought of taking payments 24 hours a day is apealing. This guide provides an overview of how to accept online transactions, and set up an eshop. [October 7, 2008]
If you're running your own business website and need to update the contents on a regular basis, chances are you would benefit from having a CMS. This is a guide to content management systems, and choosing the right software for your small business. [July 10, 2008]
With the continuing growth the Internet, more and more small businesses are going online. If you remain unconvinced, here are some compelling reasons why every small business should have a website [July 1, 2008]
Having a business website isn’t just a simple matter of getting something set up and playing with the content every now and then. Because your website represents your business on the internet, that makes it a potential target for hackers. [December 6, 2007]
Communicating virtually offers cost savings as well as offering significant improvements in worker productivity and efficiency. Some tips to help ensure better engagement from your audience via web conferencing [October 26, 2007]
You can get a business blog up and running in about 20 minutes. Here are the 7 simple steps you need to follow. [July 2, 2007]
Many startups with technical knowledge build their own websites, but this can mean that the money being saved on web development is now being lost in labour time. So what’s the alternative? [April 25, 2007]
Overview of the basic legal requirements of the E-Commerce Regulations that businesses selling and advertising on line must be aware of and complied with - including what information you are obliged to include on your website. [February 14, 2007]
From 1 January 2007, if your website does not contain the company’s full name – including any trading names, its place of registration and registration number and registered office address, you are committing an offence. [January 22, 2007]
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