First of all, what is a website?  Though there are more technical ways of explaining it, think of it as an electronic brochure or pamphlet that provides information and resources to current and potential customers 24 hours a day.  Specific reasons to have a web presence:

#1: Improve Communication - keep your customer base informed by providing a central location for your hours of operation, policies and procedures, contact information, events and activities, new services available and much more.

#2: Generate Awareness - communicate why your services and products are important and should be considered by your customers.  Let people know what sets you apart from the competition!

#3: Give or Sell Information - sell your products online!  This is not only a convenience for your customers, but can also reduce the amount of time staff are on the phone and storefront overhead.

#4: Provide Customer Service and Support - give you customers what they really want - excellent customer service!  Post frequently asked questions, who to call or email for certain types of questions or problems, and answer support questions via email.

However, it is better NOT to have a website than to have one that lacks updated information or does not portray a professional appearance!  With that in mind, be sure to set a reminder to yourself or your staff to review the website on a monthly basis.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 21st, 2006 at 1:49 pm and is filed under Helpful Resources. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.