Benefits Of Having A Website
Some of the goals that can be achieved by launching a website include the following:
1. Far Cheaper and Much More Flexible Than Print Advertising
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| Compusy e Solutions |
The
Internet is extremely different from print advertising in that space is
cheap, your advertisement is accessible for a longer period of time,
the content can be changed without having to ask someone to do it for
you (if you use a content management system) and you can potentially
reach a wider audience.
This is not to say that you
should not use other forms of advertising at all You can use it to
entice people to visit your website and find out about your company and
potentially open two-way communication between the potential customer
and a sales person.
2. Market Expansion
The
Internet has allowed businesses to break through the geographical
barriers and become accessible, virtually, from any country in the world
by a potential customer that has Internet access.
3. Diversify Revenue Streams
A
website is not just a medium for representation of your company, it is a
form of media from which everybody can acquire information. You can use
this media to sell advertising space to other businesses.
A
recent trend has risen where businesses feature their very own
directory of complimentary services, where the visitor can search for
information on a business that will enhance the use of your service. The
business sells complimentary businesses a listing in their directory.
A
good example is a catering company featuring a directory with
businesses such as event co-coordinators, electronic equipment rental
companies, etc.
4. 24 7 365
No more turning
customers away when its time to close shop, putting up a note saying
closed for public holiday , or leaving an irritating message on your
answering service specifying your trading hours tell them to visit
your website for information they are looking for.
5. Offer Convenience
It
is far more convenient for a person to research a product on the
Internet than it is to get in a car, drive somewhere and look for or ask
someone for information on a product. Also, a potential customer won t
have to judge a call centre agent to determine whether he/she has their
best interests in mind, or just wants to make a sale.
The
potential customer can visit your website whenever they like in their
own privacy and comfort, without the stresses and distractions that
exist in the real world .
Your website is a self-service medium
for example, instead of having to wait in a long cue to pay your TV
License, you can now do it electronically through the TV License
website.
6. Add Value and Satisfaction
By
offering convenience, a point of reference and that touch of
individualized customer service, you ultimately add value to your
offering and your customers experience a higher level of satisfaction.
Your
website can add value in other ways too, by featuring tips, advice and
general interest content you can entertain your customers. This will
also help them remember you better.
7. Standardize Sales Performance
By
looking at which approached / pitches have worked in the past and those
which have not, you can produce the ultimate pitch and use it with your
website, so that you use it on every customer. No more training of
sales people and waiting for them to get a feel for your line of trade.
8. Improve credibility
A
website gives you the opportunity to tell potential customers what you
are about and why you deserve their trust and confidence. In fact, many
people use the internet for pre-purchase research so that they can
determine for themselves whether a particular supplier or brand is
worthy of their patronage, and won t take them for a ride.
The
Internet also allows for Viral Marketing where your website visitors
spread positive word-of-mouth about your business - your customers do
your marketing!
9. Promote your Brick n Mortar Presence
Getting
lost trying to find a place can be frustrating for a potential
customer. You can publish what they call a dummy map on your website,
which shows directions and landmarks graphically, and the potential
customer can print it out when looking for your Brick n Mortar
premises.
You might advertise a promotion on your
website encouraging the visitor to visit your Brick n Mortar
premises (e.g.. At a branch near you! ).
Also, if you recently
moved to a new location, you will have to wait for the next 'phone
directory to come out before people figure out where you currently are.
Because a website is flexible you can change the content as you like
you can change you contact details instantly and lower the risk of
losing customers when moving to a new location.
10. Growth Opportunity
A
website serves as a great place to refer potential investors to, to
show them what your company is about, what it has achieved and what it
can achieve in future.
11. Two-Way Communicative Marketing
Customers can quickly and easily give feedback on your product and/or marketing approach.
12. Cheap Market Research
You
can use features on your website such as visitor polls, online surveys
and your website statistics to find out what your customers like more
and how they feel about certain aspects of your business to determine
how you can improve your product and the way you do business.
Website
statistics show you how much traffic your website receives, how the
visitor got to your website and where, geographically, the visitor is
from.
