The internet has taken over our lives with a vengeance, and has changed the way many of us do business. More and more consumers are now doing their shopping online and, unfortunately, some business owners have felt the pinch.
But there are many small businesses that have been virtually unaffected by the internet boom. Those professionals in the more service-oriented fields - veterinarians, chiropractors, beauticians, dentists and more - do almost all of their work in what's now affectionately know as the brick-and-mortar business, and as such can never be fully replaced by internet technology.
However, many of these businesses, from tiny mom-and-pop stores to small health care centers - have yet to merge onto the information highway, and it's costing them plenty; of customers, that is.
That's because, although traditional advertising (phone books, flyers, radio ads, etc.) are still widely used, there is no doubt that the most effective advertising now takes place online.
As our society becomes increasingly computer-savvy, consumers are turning more and more to the internet for information and advice on where to do their business. Your potential customers would much rather type your business name into a search engine than ferret out your phone number in some ratty, old phonebook.
And who can blame them?
On the web, your potential clients can find out your hours and location 24/7, get a feel for your business philosophies and practices and can learn about your services and pricing without having to listen to annoying hold music or endless phone menus. Even better, they can get all the information they need at their own pace, taking breaks to feed the cat and burp the baby as needed.
Of course, they can't do any of the above unless your small business has its own website, preferably with a recognizable domain name (http://YourBusinessName.com) and Search Engine Optimization, which makes your business easier to find on the vast world wide web. Now that so many consumers are turning to the internet to find the services they need, it's imperative that your small business has the same (or better) web presence than that of your competitors.
Luckily, web design now comes in all flavors and sizes, so you won't have to look far to find a designer and a site that's right or you.
Often a simple one-page website is enough for very small businesses; hours, location, contact information and basic services can all be presented in a professional way for your prospective customers. A medical professional may require more pages; perhaps choosing to explain particular procedures and detailing insurance information. And some small businesses prefer to put everything online, from articles and interactive forms to detailed descriptions of their personal business philosophies.
No matter which design and options you choose, your website will reassure and impress potential consumers, leading them directly to your brick-and-mortar door, and leaving you to concentrate on what you do best; running your small business.
About The Author
Kelly Kyrik is the owner of Tech-Know-Girl Web Design - http://www.tech-know-girl.com - which provides custom designed websites to meet all your small business needs. She can be reached at http://www.tech-know-girl.com or toll-free at 1-877-554-6500.
shuttle to Midway Beardstown .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareIn my previous life.....Actually, my previous JOB life, I was... Read More
You've decided to create a website to market your products... Read More
When people think about the Internet, they think about technology.... Read More
The internet is a sea of knowledge. Getting your information... Read More
Creating a content management system either from scratch,... Read More
There are lots of HTML editors on the market, however,... Read More
This is a growing concern amongst many business owners. Does... Read More
Developing a website with content that entices visitors to return... Read More
Making money with your web site is the dream and... Read More
Recently, a friend asked "What's the deal with those DIY... Read More
The Internet has opened a whole New World of opportunity... Read More
Running an effective website is a continuous process. I have... Read More
Having an eye catching website is great, but are you... Read More
Your business website is a critical aspect of being able... Read More
In the late 1990's three San Francisco based web developers... Read More
You want to give your site's visitors a way to... Read More
"'Page Not Found' on this Server. Check the URL and... Read More
One of the best tools you have as a webmaster... Read More
So you've decided to start an online work at home... Read More
Most interactive websites nowadays would require a user to log... Read More
Is Your Web Site an Expense or an Investment?Why don't... Read More
An automated accessibility tool is a piece of software which... Read More
We all start out the same. Some have budgets, some... Read More
After having decided to start a business, the next thing... Read More
We are clearly well past the innocent "golden age" of... Read More
Green Bay Hummer H2 SUV rentals ..In this day and age most businesses consider having their... Read More
So you want to take a look at a real... Read More
The Internet has opened a whole New World of opportunity... Read More
The internet is a sea of knowledge. Getting your information... Read More
1. Address your targeted audience on your business site. Example:... Read More
Webmasters deal with a myriad of complex design challenges every... Read More
Like any area of business your website needs some effort... Read More
You work hard to build traffic to your web page.... Read More
Designing an E-commerce Web site is not as simple as... Read More
I am just a learner who likes to delve in... Read More
With all of the factors involved in designing and building... Read More
When visitors add your web site to their Favorites or... Read More
Today it seems everyone is jumping on the entrepreneur bandwagon,... Read More
After deciding what kind of internet business you want to... Read More
"'Page Not Found' on this Server. Check the URL and... Read More
Before you start building your site, ask yourself "WHY?". Why... Read More
In the late 1990's three San Francisco based web developers... Read More
Keywords in Search Engine Optimizing and Search Engine Marketing are... Read More
Customer service questionnaires can help your clients better understand their... Read More
When people think about the Internet, they think about technology.... Read More
What do you mean, you don't have a website for... Read More
Selecting the Perfect Domain NameThe first issue I have with... Read More
If you've been developing websites on Mars for the past... Read More
I had a client say something to me the other... Read More
Three way linking and concerns.For many years SEO experts were... Read More
Web Development |