Chapter 8 - Marketing Strategies For Small Businesses
Business Websites Do Wonders For Small Businesses
Should A Business Website Be Part Of Your Marketing Plan?
 You may think that since your business is new and small that this is something you can put off for now.
The truth is, having a website will be one of the best marketing tools you have. Even My Small Business?
Many new companies wonder if they really need a website. Look at the following questions to help you decide:
- Would you like to get new customers?
- Do you want people to be able to buy your products or services more easily?
- Would it be beneficial for potential clients to be able to communicate with you easily and at their own convenience?
- Would you like to have more people know about what your business does?
- Is staying in touch with current customers important?
If you said yes to any of these questions, then you will want a website. Simply stated, if you have a business, a website will do you a world of good.
Having a website will let people learn quickly about your business and your products. Those looking for such information are:
- Customers
- Potential employees
- Potential business partners
- Investors
With such important people looking at your website, it is important that it be professional looking.
Business Website Design
Like your business name and logo, a website is one of the first things a customer may encounter about your business. It is essential that you make a good first impression.
A poor looking business website will give a potential customer a bad feeling about what you do and they are likely to take their business elsewhere.
The wonderful thing is that a nice looking business website will put you in the same category as someone with a much larger business.
As long as your business website is well-designed, you can portray a strong, professional image. One thing to keep in mind: It is actually better to have no website at all than to have one that makes you look bad.
To create a business website that connects with your customers, you may want to start by looking at your competition's websites.
What do they have in common? What differs? What do you like? Show these websites to your web designer as they help you create a website that meets the needs of your customers.
Marketing With Your Business Site
Consumers are becoming more and more confident about shopping online. As a result, shoppers are spending more online than ever before.
 In fact, online sales are expected to grow to $355 billion per year by 2012.
Since so many people are using the Internet to purchase items and search for information, using the Internet as a marketing tool makes sense. You website can help you:
- Meet your customer's needs
- Find the right customers
- Compete with larger companies
- Communicate with your customers
- Provide timely information
- Provide information on your customer's schedule, not yours
The cost of creating and maintaining a website are relatively low in comparison with many other marketing methods, especially a method that gives you access to a global market.
With such great reasons to have a website, there is no reason not to.
What's Next
Next In This Guide
 Five Top Marketing Tips to Help Your Business Succeed - Marketing is important but can be costly if not done correctly. The following five tips will get you headed in the right direction.
Previous In This guide
 Marketing Strategies For Small Businesses - In the simplest of terms, marketing is everything you do to get your business noticed by your customers and gets your customers buying your product or using your service.
Table of Contents
 How To Start A Small Business Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Starting a Business But Were Afraid To Ask - Table of Contents
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