| Why would I need a website? Because its the most cost effective way to promote your business More & more people and businesses are going online to find the goods and services they need. Without a website you could be losing customers to your competitors Can I afford to have a website? Can you afford NOT to have a website? Unless you want to be invisible to more and more potential customers every year, your business will need a presence on the Internet! So - how much is it going to cost? Probably less than you think! An effective website can cost less than a yellow pages advert, or a small run in a local newspaper. Why would I need a website? The Internet is becoming a vital part of many organisations’ marketing and communications strategy. Businesses increasingly rely on websites to provide information to both current and potential customers - 24 hours a day. Its speed and convenience means that many people are now using the Internet to compare products and services before making an informed decision on what or where to buy. The absence of a website may exclude you from this process and affect your customers' perception of your business. Although they may usually request your goods or services in person, many will expect to be able to find out about your business online, without contacting you directly. A website is a powerful way of retaining customers and of positioning your business to move into new markets. Use it to appeal to new customers and build new markets as you develop your business. Can I afford to have a website? An effective website gives customers a reason for buying from you and not from your competitors. It's a valuable source of differentiation - a well designed website will stand out from the competition allowing you to make your business more efficient and add value to your products and services. Your website might be the first time a potential customer comes into contact with you - so you'll want to make a good impression and a strong, well presented web presence can bring a wide range of commercial benefits allowing you to: • increase your customer base • improve your visibility • communicate with customers & suppliers more effectively • boost your profile • sell online • increase sales of your products or services • improve market position relative to your competitors • create greater customer loyalty • Create a stronger identity for your business So, how much is it going to cost? An effective website can cost less than a Yellow Pages Advert or a small advert in a local newspaper but cost can vary greatly depending on exactly what you want! If you simply want to make people aware of your presence, a single page Business Card website will cost around £100, and is a great way of getting your company’s name and details online. However, your business may benefit more from a simple, business brochure website. These provide basic information such as a description of your goods, products and services, opening times and contact information and are available from around £400. You may wish to grow your business market by selling your products or services to a wider audience online. An e-commerce website is a shop window for your goods and services allowing you to build strong relationships with your clients on an ongoing basis. Although this type of site initially requires a larger budget, (from around £1500) the long term benefits are considerable, offering increased productivity through greater awareness of, and access to your products or services - around the clock - across the globe. The table below sets out some price comparisons with other forms of advertising; |
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| Designer Casuals E-commerce site | |
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| Signature Kitchens Large Brochure Site | |
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| Pro-Cut Metal Services Small Brochure Site | |
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| Lottie Mutton Business Card Site | |
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