Believe it or not, there are still small business owners out there who run a day-to-day business, but don’t see the value in having a website to call their own. There are countless benefits to having your own website, and these are some of them.

First off, you’ll need to get in touch with a trusted organisation that can help take all the hassle out of the process and take care of the website hosting. Once you’ve got that sorted out, you can take your business online and capitalise on the Internet.

Some of the goals that can be achieved by launching a website include the following:

1. More flexible and cost-effective than print advertising
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.

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.

4. Constant presence, all year round
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.
5. Offers 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 stresses and distractions
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. Standardise 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.

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. Also, if you’ve recently moved to a new location, you won’t have to stress about getting your new address out there. A website is flexible and you can change the content as you like, updating your contact details instantly and lower the risk of losing customers.

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.