Are websites worth it?

I know this sounds naive but is it worth the time, money, and hassle to build a website if you are a small business owner and you don't sell a product/service over the Internet?

It would depend on a couple of things, first if the business owner is able to build and maintain the website themselves. Secondly, how much $$ would they normally spend on advertising each year. Personnally, when I'm looking for a product that I don't know where to get, I'm more likely to hit the 'net than grab the yellow pages. IMO, just because they don't sell their product over the internet, it doesn't mean that they won't get extra sales because of the a well designed website.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WobblyBox

...is it worth the time, money, and hassle to build a website if you are a small business owner and you don't sell a product/service over the Internet?

I guess it depends on how much time, money, and hassle you're talking about and what benefits you'd receive from the website.

IMO, "every" business should have an online presense no matter how small. At the very least, if a consumer searches for your business name on the Internet they should be able to find you.

IMO, websites can be very effective when you utilize them properly. Many small business owners find themselves with websites, but don't really know what to do with them. Ask yourself: How will people find my website? How much business does it have to generate to pay for itself? and how will I measure results? Some people get so caught up in the "techie" end of their website (number of pages, animation and effects, and other "features"), that they forget the most important part: How will this thing bring me more business??

Most small businesses who have websites don't have a plan in place to track results, so they either have no idea if their website is producing for them or they assume it that it is not because they really don't know. My company puts together a low-cost website for small businesses that offers a 100% unconditional money-back guarantee, if the customer doesn't get results from their website. If you focus on results, you can't go wrong.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RainMaker

My company puts together a low-cost website for small businesses that offers a 100% unconditional money-back guarantee, if the customer doesn't get results from their website.

Can you provide examples? Also, how do you measure "results"?

Quote:

Originally Posted by WobblyBox

Can you provide examples? Also, how do you measure "results"?

Certainly. Here are our samples: www.withcoupon.com/owners.cfm. Scroll down and click sample website 1 and Sample website 2.

We watch website activity, as a STARTING point, but more importanly we want our clients to be able to tie specific sales directly to their website because that is what they are really looking for. We realize that every website visit will not translate directly to a sale (there are many intangilbe benefits, as well), but we believe strongly in the use of website coupons (or some type discount or website special offer) to track results. This serves 2 purposes: 1) When someone walks through the door with a printed website coupon, you KNOW where that sale came from; and 2). Coupons give customers a reason to KEEP COMING BACK to your website after the first look. Every time a potential customer visits your website, that is another opporunity to sell them your product and/or service and another opportunity to put yourself ahead of your competition and in the forefront of their minds. For restaurants, menu views are an important measure, also, because visitors primarly browse menus when they are about to place an order.

For purposes of our money-back guarantee, we measure results by happy clients. If they are not happy for ANY reason, we refund them--no questions asked. We do the bulk of our work up front and don't charge set-up fees, so our profitablity relies almost exclusively on renewal revenue from satisfied customers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Many small business owners find themselves with websites, but don't really know what to do with them. Ask yourself: How will people find my website?

Does your company also help promote the sites?

Quote:

Originally Posted by WobblyBox

Does your company also help promote the sites?

Yes. Their subscription includes a website sign for their door and counter and customized website labels for their printed materials to get them started until their next printing run.

We also instruct them on how to promote it: The number one way people will find your website is...YOU ARE GOING TO TELL THEM ABOUT IT! I realize this sounds stupidly obvious, but I cannot tell you the number of businesses I've walked into, specifically looking for an indication that they have a website and there is none to be found. Then I ask the clerk..."Do you have a website?" There is a long pause..."um, I think so." "What is your website address?" I ask...."um...I'm not sure, I think its..." There are many ways to promote your website that cost nothing, only a little effort.

People are so caught up in the frenzy of being "found on the search engine" and while this is useful as a supplement, it is NO REPLACEMENT FOR SELF-PROMOTION OF YOUR WEBSITE. Do you search Yahoo when you want to shop on amazon or ebay? NO! Because their website address has already been burned into your mind. It is always preferable to have your customer come straight to you and not risk finding a competitor on a search engine. We bring our customers search engine traffic through our home page, (potentially new customers which they may not have otherwise found their website it were a free standing site), but these freebies are icing, not the meat and potatoes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RainMaker

People are so caught up in the frenzy of being "found on the search engine" and while this is useful as a supplement, it is NO REPLACEMENT FOR SELF-PROMOTION OF YOUR WEBSITE.

Good point for those people you can get your message in front of.

Are websites worth it?

Websites Forum