A website gives your company a global shop-front - an opportunity to invite visitors into your company headquarters 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Despite the potential as a marketing tool, many Somerset businesses do not have a website. Somerset is not alone - a recent survey revealed that 75% of UK businesses do not currently do business online. If you are not convinced you really need a website consider the following great reasons for getting a website:

1.     Your competitors are probably already on the Internet….
…attracting the people who could be your customers!

2.     Your potential customers are already searching the Internet….
…for the very products you offer. Even as you read this there will be someone on the Internet looking for a business like yours. If you are not in you don’t win!

3.     Your website will promote your business 24 hours a day, 7 days a week….
…even when you’re sleeping.

4.     Your customers can buy your products and pay for them while sitting at their computer
Now how easy is that? The easier you make it for people to buy your products the more likely they will do.

5.     Your website gives you a much bigger advert for less money
You could have 100’s or even 1000’s of pages on your website for only a few hundred pounds. Try matching that with offline marketing!

6.     You can change the information on your website whenever you want
As soon as your prices or products change your catalogue/price list/product literature becomes out of date. It is far easier and cheaper to update your website than it is to update all your literature.

7.     Your website can reach potential customers locally, nationally or worldwide - at no extra cost to you
The world is your oyster! No longer do you have to rely on people walking past your high street shop, your shop is now in a global village.

8.     Your website can save you a lot of money
Printing, advertising and labour costs, the list of savings is endless.

9.     Your website can provide another worker for your business…
…providing information to customers, replying to emails and even making sales - day and night.

10. Your website can convey a professional and-up-to date image
This is your chance to present yourself on equal footing alongside large multi-national companies and your customers cannot tell whether you employ 100 staff or none.

11. Your website can improve customer service…
…by providing a website that is useful for customers.

12. You can combine email marketing with your web site
You can use email to advertise your website. There is no quicker way of getting your sales message in front of a prospective customer who can be looking at your website within seconds of opening your email!

13. You can get a website up and running for a few hundred pounds!

14. You mean you want more reasons for having a website? If you are still not convinced you need a website you’ve clearly missed the point – go back to no 1 above and start again, do not pass Go or collect £100
 :-)

Action Points

1. Talk to Business Link Somerset on 08457 211 112 and ask them for a list of website designers in your locality.

2. Talk to Connecting Somerset on 0845 130 1595 and ask them about the availability of a grant to help you take your business online.

Original article written by Julie of the Somerset Internet Marketing Network