The number of internet users is increasing at an enormous rate. They are looking for relevant information and resources, and any offline business without a website is losing business to their competitors who do have one.

Reasons To Have Your Own Website

Professionalism for your offline business
Make Money !
Reach a new and different market of internet users
Increase your exposure – worldwide
Passive selling
Establish yourself as an authority in your chosen field
Pre-selling tool
Teach people about your area of expertise - informational
Accept payments
Multiple income streams
Online brochure
Marketing resource
Collect email addresses, to market to those targeted people on a regular basis
Gain new clients
To communicate – eg announcing new offers or events
Customer Service resource

There are an increasing number of people who only buy online through the internet.

Reasons Why People Buy Online

Time Scarcity – it’s quicker to locate what they need on the internet, and have it delivered, than it is to drive to a store or go through the Yellow Pages and make phone calls.
Convenience – Can be done wherever their computer is – at home or work, anytime they choose, 24 hours a day
Price Comparisons – Check the prices on the same item from different companies
Finding the right item – Detailed descriptions help the buyer identify which product they need
Huge Variety - Items can be purchased from anywhere in the world, widely increasing the number of choices.
Informed choices – usually a website will have a lot more information about an item, than a salesperson will tell you.

Every business, company, partnership, freelancer, consultant or solo operator with a product or service to sell needs their own web site.

This is not to say the ‘old’ marketing methods should be discarded. The internet is to be considered as another, powerful way to get your message out to the public. Your own website is a marketing medium that should not be ignored, even if it seems to be an alien subject. There are plenty of experts around to help you.

Written by Margo Courtney, author of the ‘How To Build Web Sites’ tutorial. It explains in plain english, and step by step, how to create, host and market web sites. The tutorial can be viewed at http://www.how-to-build-web-sites.com and its aim is web page success. She also designs and builds web sites, and offers other web site services.

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