Does Your Small Business Need A Website?

The following is a checklist of questions to answer before you can think of going online with your business -

* What kind of a small business is it' If it is about selling a product, then can the product be sold online' When ordered for, can it be transported to any part of the globe'

* In case of a service-oriented business, will the website be able to provide information pertaining to the service or industry' Buyers like to purchase from the net only after they are thoroughly informed. Therefore, web sites must be designed to inform the customers about the services that the small businesses offer.

* How can the web site be used to cut costs' Will the web site reduce costs of manufacturing, distribution etc' Also, will it be easier to communicate with distant vendors, clients and workforce'

* How can the small business develop better relations with clients using their website' Small business can adapt several methods such as provide guidance, up to date information on products or services, feedback forms etc. on the web site.

* How does the small business intend to reach out to its potential customers using its website' As the Internet is full of customers who know what they want and are looking to buy, it is important to have a solid marketing plan so that the business can successfully sell its products and services.

Once the business decides to have a website, it is necessary to include the web site in collateral material and also submit to search engines, as nobody would visit it unless they know it exists. The small business should aso try to get listed in directories and place banner ads.

What do small business owners feel about having a web site'

The Internet has not only been useful for running small businesses but also has also helped them to succeed. In a survey carried out by Lewis, Mobilio & Associates for Homestead Technologies, Inc. in 2002, out of 970 small businesses owners in the US, 57% agree that having a website is a key to the success to their business. About 75% of the respondents believed that they couldn't do without a web site, while 61% wanted to have a web site for their business. 86% would recommend other small business owners to build their own site.

In another survey conducted by Verizon SuperPages.com's Third Annual Small Business Internet Survey in 2001, about 50% of small business owners having a web site communicate regularly with customers through e-mail. Another growing use of web sites by small businesses is for advertising and communications. The study discovered that 35% of small businesses with a use it to advertise or offer company data in comparison to 8% who sell their products and services through the web site. Also, 56% of business owners believe that the web site has a complete return on investment.