Why every small business needs a website

It doesn't need to be large; and, it doesn't need to cost you hundreds of thousands of naira to create and maintain. A small simple yet professional website is all that is needed to get your name out there and provide general information to potential customers.

Marketing aspects

Operating a small business today is more competitive than it's ever been. Even with your niche market, there will always be strong competitors in your immediate area. By having a website, you open up your business to a huge potential market.

For example, over 160 million households use the Internet. That works out to a minimum of 4.9 billion people in the world who would have access to information about your product or service via a website. Now, imagine the number of people worldwide who would have access to information about your product or service if you had a website.

Selling

Now consider this: Our demographics are changing. The teenagers of the 90s are now in their twenties and have disposable income. These are really the first generation who have grown up with the Internet.

Now, they are making the purchasing decisions for their households. Where do they look first for information about products? The Internet!!

Using the Internet to do preliminary research on a product or service is now the norm. As such, 79percent of Internet users and 38percent of nonusers expect a business will have a Web site that gives them information about a product they are considering buying. (Source: Advanced Technology and Libraries, February 2003)

In fact, 47percent of all Internet users say if a store provides product information online, even if it doesn't sell goods at its Web site, they are more likely to go to the physical store to buy the product (Advanced Technology and Libraries, February 2003).

Customer service

This is where a website can set you apart from your competitors. Your customers can now find out about you day and night, whether your physical store is open or not! You can let them know when you are open, provide them with directions, and answer some of your most commonly asked questions, all without putting a strain on your staffing resources.

More importantly, a website provides a way for your customers to interact with your company without necessarily having to interact with a person. For example, customers can fill out a feedback form on your product or service via your website. They can sign up for a newsletter or contest. Or, they can place an order online from anywhere in the world!

Your customers are happier because they aren't limited to normal business hours to interact with your business.