Why do people want web sites?

[LazyJim]

Why is there a growing number of people and small businesses getting their own web page?

What are the benefits and costs for small businesses wanting a simple web site?

What do small businesses want the WWW to do for them?


Can anyone help me answer these questions?

[DaveyBoy]

1. £££££££££££££££££££££££
2. benefits : make ££££££££££££££
3. £££££££££££££££££££££££

[LazyJim]

hahaha

OK I'm talking about off-line businesses having a web site - but it does not neccasarily have online shopping.

How does a web site help make £££££££££££££ ?

[kwvarga]

well it makes u look more professional.. my lemonade stand had a website.. we had a email group and we emailed basically the entire neighborhood when we were selling lemonade.. directions on how to get there.. we were making 600 bucks a day. good times.

[DaveyBoy]

lets a lot more people know that you actually exist, and i guess it broadens your customer base to being more national or even international.

[LazyJim]

Originally Posted by theSpear

well it makes u look more professional.. my lemonade stand had a website.. we had a email group and we emailed basically the entire neighborhood when we were selling lemonade.. directions on how to get there.. we were making 600 bucks a day. good times.

lol cool
that's promotion, info (the directions) and professional image then!

[kwvarga]

yea

[LazyJim]

OK here's what I was writting down after I posted the questions...

• Image[list:c8802c2242]
• Look professional
• Get ahead of competition
• Keep up with competition

[*]Promotion

• Extend offline adverts
• Be seen by customers doing research online
• Give lots more promotional material than possible in printed adverts

[*]Information

• Provide contact and ordering info
• Show off your products
• Give something extra - tips and advice related to your product

[*]Relations

• Open up communication channels
• Enhance the consumer experience
• Get feedback from your customers
• Impliment a newsletter with email

[*]Reach out

• Reach a wider, even world-wide market
• Have a shop open 24 hours a day 365 days a year, even if you have no bricks-and-morter shop

[/list:u:c8802c2242]

[AcRoNym]

u aint discussed reasons people are put off by a web site..

[LazyJim]

no because that's for another topic

[Derf]

Well another reason I think people post. If you are looking for something where is the first place you go to look for a product or a business. I don't know about you. But I get my information online before I go to the store if possiable

[LazyJim]

ok so customers want to save time and travel costs, by starting their shopping online, even if they want to 'test-drive' the actual products in the real shop before buying.

it also gives sustomers a larger sample of sellers to compare

[spacefem]

image and convenience. there's information that you just can't get out with the yellow pages... specials, business hours, e-mail contact information... and keep it all up to date. I know for fact that when I first moved to the town I live in now and needed to find a church and a nice independent pet store, I looked to the web and got information I needed without having to bug anybody. Does the cash roll in for small businesses with web sites? No. But it's there and it's important, trust me. They don't need much but they need something... a simple one-page deal does the trick for 90% of them I bet.

We're living in an age where information is everywhere all the time. If you make it available to people, they're not going to go hunt it down.

[Brian]

Expression. Art...

[AcRoNym]

? for a trophy business expression and art?

[Brian]

What?

[AcRoNym]

the threads about why businesses want a website u said, expression and art.. i said 'for a trophy business'???

[Brian]

The thread isn't just about business sites...

Why is there a growing number of people and small businesses getting their own web page?

[Rivux]

It is the easiest way to get a hold of someone and a business. For example, if I want to order pizza I don't get the phone book and find the pizza places number, I go to their website, check out their latest flyer and get their phone number there.

For business that won't actually do business online, it is an update to date, interactive brochure and point of contact. It is also a way to streamline customer service since it is easier and cheaper to have questions emailed to you then someone answering the phone.

[ntrance]

Originally Posted by Rivux

It is the easiest way to get a hold of someone and a business. For example, if I want to order pizza I don't get the phone book and find the pizza places number, I go to their website, check out their latest flyer and get their phone number there.

Probably the best point made in this thread, I can't remember the last time I used a phonebook to get a number...