There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to find out information about a company’s services on the internet and you find out there is no site for the company. The internet is here and a very important tool for all aspects of life, personal and business, and if your company isn’t on the web, then you are missing out on valuable business.
If people search for your company and don’t come up with a page, it’s more than likely you’ve just lost business. A person is more likely to give their business to a company that has a presence on the internet. This gives the consumer time to research your company’s products and services, plus a site helps sets the tone of your business. A site is so much more than just putting your product and/or service out there. It’s a chance to let your future customer learn more about your company and what your company is all about. The consumer becomes more invested in your brand and will develop a bond that will keep them coming back in the future.
A website might help build your brand and your customer base, but it will also legitimize your company. People will take your company more seriously when they see that you have a spot on the web. A website that is done right will show the world your company is professional.
Most people think having a spot on the web is enough, but there are ways to get on the web the right way. The biggest mistake by some small businesses is not having a domain name. There are plenty of free services out there that get you on the web, but it’s very important to have your own domain name (www.yournamehere.com). A domain name is personal to your company and is a great start in the right direction.
A domain name also provides you will the ability to have a professional e-mail address. I have come across so many small businesses that have e-mail addresses but they are at Yahoo, Hotmail or AOL. Those services may be fine for your personal e-mail address, but not for business. When seeing those free service e-mails it gives the appearance you’re not “hip” with the internet AND that you’re too cheap to get a company address. Having a free e-mail address is a quick way not to have a potential customer, vendor, or client take you seriously.
With just $10 a year and a $3/month hosting account you can really make a big difference to your company. Having a place on the web is very important to establishing and growing your business because it puts your brand out there. And when your brand is out there, you never know how much more business you will attract.
If you are looking to get on the web, here are some great places to get your start.
GoDaddy.com is a great place to register your domain. It’s fast, cost effective and an easy place to manage your domains.
I have used Surpass Hosting to host my domains for almost a decade. The service is reliable and cheap which is hard to come by these days. The customer service is phenomenal and they are always there to help when you need it.
Bee Succinct is built on WordPress. It’s a free blogging software that is taking over the internet. With plugins, your WordPress site can do anything you want it too. And there are plenty of themes to choose from to make your web site stand out from the rest. Or if you’re not that web savvy, there is TypePad which is WordPress, but a paid version where you don’t have to worry about installation or any of the nuances of WordPress. Plans start at $4.99 and you have use your own domain name.