Many small business owners originally were seduced with the notion that all they had to do was put a website online and wait for the phone to ring. When that didn’t happen, some became disillusioned and either left the web or left their website to languish.
The primary purpose of a website is to act as a tool to integrate and connect all your marketing communication and education. It allows your visitors to begin the task of more easily knowing, liking and trusting you.
Your website can educate, persuade and motivate your prospects to take action. But, a website also can provide a much richer set of benefits.
Awareness
These days you are expected to have a website if you are in business, and many prospects start their search for a new product or service online before they ever pick up the phone. This is even true of prospects who are referred to you.
Shortened selling cycles
In many cases, with a rich, content-driven website, your prospects may feel they can trust you before they even meet you. I have dozens of clients who found so many answers on my websites that they were ready to hire me in the minute I showed up at their office.
Access to your information
A website offers your prospects access to your marketing materials whenever they wish. You can and should save the contents of your marketing materials online and direct prospects to your website to acquire the information.
Tool to refer your business
A content-driven website allows referral contacts to share a great deal about your firm by simply directing others to your URL.
Automated distribution of marketing information
Promote the distribution of free or low-cost information and tools that allow your prospects to get to know you.
Ability to capture lead data
When people read an ad on a billboard, they may make a note of a service, but they may not need that service for months. By the time, your billboard is no longer in sight. One of the fundamental tools of a website is the ability to provide premium information in exchange for the visitor’s contact information. Once you capture this information (along with marketing permissions), you have the key to begin marketing to these prospects indefinitely, assuring that your products or services are at the top of their mind when it’s buying time.
Are you losing business by not having a website? A website today is as important as your business card. Have the site listed on all printed materials and include it wherever you can through out the world wide web.
Send us your success or failure stories about your website, let us know what works or didn’t work for you. Write to me personally by emailing me at liz@ducttapemarketingcoach.ca or phone me at 905-377-8269.
