28. Family Sites
Many families are no longer in the same geographical area; they may even be spread over several countries… A website can be a great way to keep in contact. Share pictures, movies, stories on a website for all family members to see. Added benefit: you will have an email address @ yourname.com or .ca, so you will never have to change addresses again! (Not even in case you decide to witch Internet providers).
29. Make Life Easier
Websites can make you customer’s lives easier – and yours! Look at online banking, or ticket ordering. Whole new industries have emerged because people want to be able to do things themselves, from their home or office – because it is easier. So: what will make your customers’ lives easier?
30. Find Employees
A highly effective way to use a website is to use it as a recruitment tool. You can obviously use it to post vacancies, but you may also consider placing a more general invitation to send resumes. This way you may already know the right person for the job before a vacancy even occurs.
31. Pre-ordering
A well-promoted product launch on a website allows you to take fully automated pre-orders. This is a great tool to supplement your sales force. You can have an online presentation, and shop, so that enthusiastic clients and prospects can pre-order immediately.
32.Build an Appetite
Pre-launch campaigns can be highly effective. Websites can be used to build the buzz, have a few teasers, a countdown clock, press releases and news about the ongoing campaign. You may even show a picture of just a tiny part of the new product: “can you guess what it is?”
47. Pre-Ordering
A well-promoted product launch on a website allows you to take fully automated pre-orders. This is a great tool to supplement your sales force. You can have an online presentation, and shop, so that enthusiastic clients and prospects can pre-order immediately.
48. Build An Appetite
Pre-launch campaigns can be highly effective. Websites can be used to build the buzz, have a few teasers, a countdown clock, press releases and news about the ongoing campaign. You may even show a picture of just a tiny part of the new product: “can you guess what it is?”
49. Email Address Forever
Let’s say that your domain name is agoodname.com. Using email address
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
is a good way to promote your website, because people will guess your website based on the email address. And if you keep your domain name indefinitely, you will have that email address indefinitely. No more sending of emails to your friends and business, stating that “you moved to another email service provider; can you please update your address book?”
50 Already?
50. Play With The Big Guys
Many small companies successfully take on the big Guys. Websites can be relatively inexpensive (compared to running a brick-and-mortar store), and with proper usability and search engine optimization your website can be as good as your larger competitors, or even better!
O.k. then; I will throw in a bonus: 10% Additional reasons!
51. Check You Out Anonymously
One of the things many people like about the Internet is that they can research anonymously. No pressure. This is why it is so important that you have a website that is easily found on the Internet – you cater to the preferences of your target audience.
52. Facilitate Knowledge Building
You can use a website to sell seminars or e-books, for people to learn from. You can create password-protected modules so people can learn online. You can build forums where people can exchange questions and answers. A website is an ideal tool to facilitate the exchange of knowledge.
53. Enhance Marketing Effectiveness
Success does not come from doing one thing right. What you need is a marketing mix, and a website can be a powerful ingredient. Mentioning a website in a radio, TV or print ad may just be the thing that wins people over – especially if the online experience feels similar to the offline communication.
54. People Expect It
By having a website you show the world that you are a viable business. Not having one makes you suspicious in the eyes of many prospects. It is silly but true: a website will enhance perceived professionalism.
55. Competition Forces You To(o)
Your competition will force you to get a website, if you do not already have one. Customers (especially the newer generations) will demand you have a website, and will pass you over if you do not have one. It is a matter of adjusting to shifting market conditions. And things will continue to shift, at an amazing speed – just look at how fast the Internet has become an integral part of our lives…
Conclusion
I am sure that at least one of these 55 reasons will apply to your situation. One last bit of advice: if you DO decide to have a website built: make sure that the designer has the right skills and knowledge to make your website as effective as possible. Good marketing and business advice, usability consulting and search engine optimization are just as important as great design skills. Your website should not only look great, it should be Easy to Find + Easy to Use.
Good luck!
Nardo
Nardo Kuitert is a Website Optimizer with Website Development and Optimization firm U-C WEBS (Fergus Ontario). Attract more qualified visitors, and turn more visitors into customers with full Website Optimization: Search Engine Positioning Strategies and Usability Walkthrough.
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This is an awesome list – Keep up the good work Thank you
nice list very good
Liked this article. Very useful and detailed. Thank you very much.
thanks for the information/Now I see that I need a website:-)
Great reasons for building a website! Thanks!