Search Marketing Series – Why Your Business Needs a Website

The shopping and buying habits of consumers have been forever changed by the Web. Most adults (74%) now use the Internet. 81% of web users now research products and services before buying. This trend is being driven by convenience and the savings in time. Search engines may rightly be called purchasing decision engines.

Your business needs a website for the following reasons: 1) Your customers are on the Internet looking for your products and services. If you don’t have an Internet presence, they’ll find your competitors. 2) Your competitors are on the Internet. You can’t adequately compete with them unless you’re on the Web

A Business Website Offers Serious Advantages 1) More Customers – Being online makes available those customers that research and buy online. Their geographical location becomes much less important. They could be nearby or they might be thousands of miles away.

2) Increased Presence – A website extends your business hours. The website is open 24/7 365 days a year. Contact information, address, directions, hours of operation, and other company information is always available. Information about specific products and services your business offers is always available. This information drives purchasing decisions.

Better Communication – Many different methods of communication become available with a website. Online forms e-mail and blogs are common ways to engage customers in a conversation. Using these tools a smart business owner can ask questions, get feedback, and create surveys and polls.

4) Low-Cost Marketing – Web pages may be built quickly and inexpensively. They can offer more information in more formats than traditional print media. Consider the possibility of adding audio, video or an unlimited number of photos to your sales and marketing effort. Updates can also be completed quickly and easily. Traditional marketing campaigns can’t compete with the scope and low cost of a website.

The simple existence of a website guarantees neither web traffic nor sales. In nearly all cases a process called “optimization” is required to ensure the visibility of the website in the search engines. Higher rankings in the search engine results leads directly to higher traffic, and subsequent sales.

The Internet has changed business. And it’s changing marketing. The Yellow Pages are yesterday. The search engines are now. Is your Website VISIBLE? Our search marketing techniques are effective and ethical. Did you hear that? Opportunity just knocked. Zen Web Services.