There’s no argument, the Internet has significantly changed the way over the last 10-15 years that businesses do business, and how consumers buy their goods and services.

Very often, the first point of call is a web search, which has resulted in Google becoming a verb.  It also helps to explain the growth of SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) over the last couple of years.

However, it is interesting how many businesses still don’t have a website.

Why?

It is relatively inexpensive to get a presence only website.  It is your online brochure.  It can provide information about the goods and services you provide, it can give recommendations from happy customers, it can give you useful information.  If suitable to your business model, it can even be set up for e-commerce, allowing the consumer to buy products online.

OK, your target market may not be technical or Internet savvy, which may affect businesses who aim at an older demographic.  However, that is not set in stone, people are learning things all the time.  And there are many occassions where older consumers let their children (or grandchildren!) search online for better deals.

You may, of course, be happy with the level of business you have.  However, business is dynamic, and there are always new competitors coming along.  Complacency is the last calling point before the scrapheap.

You may use social media such as FaceBook or Twitter to provide an online presence, but these are only part of the story.  They should be used in conjunction with a website, not instead of one.

Even if you do not use the Internet yourself, there is a good chance that your customers and potential customers do.

If you haven’t already got a website for your business, perhaps now is the time to change that.

Incidentally, if you like our website, this may be of interest.