Is Your Small Business Website Attracting New Customers and Driving Sales?

Does your local business have a strong online presence?

As a small business with local clients, perhaps you haven't put much thought into your own business website. After all, the majority of your customers live nearby. Perhaps they pass your business on their way home and stop in to make a purchase. Other people become customers after looking you up in the local business pages. You're happy with your local clientele. Do you really need to worry about being online?

Absolutely.

In today's times, many small, local business owners are recognizing the important of a strong online presence. Why? Because sales are slowing and they realize the internet is where potential customers are searching for services and products.

Local business owners are setting up sites to grow their businesses and capture new customers. If your company is not online or if you haven't given much thought to your own website lately, you could be missing out on a significant amount of business.

What Can a Well-Written Site Do for You?
Done the right way, a business website is literally an extension of your business that generates its own web traffic and creates new opportunities for sales. Your site can be an easy way for you to:
(*) Build traffic and find new clients
(*) Establish your brand
(*) Sell your goods and services online
(*) Advertise promotions
(*) Tell your story and set yourself apart from your competitors
(*) Build credibility by providing quality information
(*) Develop a relationship with your customers through a personalized "e-zine" mailing

Let's face it. A well-written company website is a powerful marketing tool. Because it's available 24 hours a day, potential clients can find your site, read your content, and conduct a business transaction with you even while your brick-and-mortar store is closed.

Unlike the local business pages, a customer on your website isn't distracted by competitors' ads. With good content, you'll have a captive audience eager to do business with you. In addition, a website allows you to determine exactly how many people are visiting your site so you can make adjustments to your content and promotions accordingly. Contrast that with local print ads where you often don't know how many people are viewing your ad.

Take It to the Next Level
Perhaps you've avoided setting up your own website because you're not sure how to create one. Luckily, there are some great budget-conscience products on the market that automate the process of setting up a successful website. You can build a highly trafficked site that will enhance your business without any prior website knowledge. If you can write and type, you can create a great company site while still having plenty of time to focus on your core business. Or if you prefer, you could outsource this process and have your site created for you.

If you've had a site up for awhile but it hasn't generated a lot of traffic, consider an update. Revise it to include a great selection of relevant content that your customers are seeking and the search engines will reward you by bringing more visitors to your site.

So what are you waiting for?

In this current market, it's imperative that you differentiate yourself from your competition. Don't let your competitors attract new business that could be yours. Give your local business the exposure it deserves by creating a business website that over-delivers. Developing a solid web presence can strengthen your business exponentially.