Still Don't Have a Website? Get One

The impact the internet is having on the global marketplace is astounding. These days we use the internet for everything from checking the weather, reading the latest news and banking to researching that new product we are interested in, making vacation reservations, and communicating with friends and family.

Manufacturers are pushing their e-commerce aggressively, while media, retailers and even utilities are spending billions of dollars hoping to reap a little of the internet's revenue and profit for themselves.

The number of entrepreneurial businesses with access to the internet is staggering. The growing number of small businesses that maintain their own websites have found that using the web leads to more revenue and higher customer-service ratings.

What does that mean for you? It means you can advertise, reach new customers, conduct business-to-business transactions and even create a private internal network for your employees.

Do you need a web presence? Yes.

What the web can do for your business:

1. E-commerce. Right now small business and online retail marketing are experiencing huge annual growth. E-commerce transforms you into a global business that can sell your product anywhere, anytime. Many companies just starting out think they can't sell products online without a merchant account. But with options such as PayPal, you can accept payments via credit card or debit card online. The companies do charge a small percentage for each transaction, but joining is free, and the percentage is only on items sold.  
2. Competition. Being on the internet means you can compete with other companies on a local and national basis. It's a convenient, easy way to do business 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  
3. Visibility and presence. A website is your global calling card. In our fast-paced world, many people jump on the internet and do a search for the product or business they are interested in. Will they find you? Are you listed anywhere? If not, you are losing potential clients and sales.  
4. Cost-effective. If you're just starting out, having a web presence can help you test the waters and provide invaluable feedback from potential customers.

The cost is low, and all you have to do is research and shop around for the best prices you can find. It's your company -- open 24 hours a day, seven days a week!

For more on websites, seeTricks to Build an Effective Website