More and more local business owners are making the move to take their business online. It is a smart move that is keeping me busy.
80% of people search the web to find local business. Having a website is the first step in establishing your online presence.
I have found that creating an online presence can sound very overwhelming. Business owners do not need one more thing to do. Just dealing with the day to day business affairs is enough.
Would your offline line business fail because you do not go online? No. There are many successful off line business that are not online. However, they are missing a tremendous chance to grow and expand. And I must admit there could be some businesses that have unique circumstances that would not be supported by an Internet presence. I will take bets that percentage is very small.
Bottom line is that people like to be comfortable, and staying with the old format is comfortable. Exploring new territory is uncomfortable. Expanding and getting bigger can feel uncomfortable. I think it is called growing pains.
Now making the most of that online website is the key. You can have a website that is a beautiful brochure for your services. Or you can have a website that really communicates with your customers. A dynamic website does take some time and attention. But in the long run it is time and attention that pays off.
When it comes to creating a dynamic site, WordPress is the best choice hands down. WordPress has become so much more than a blogging platform. It is a complete Content Management System (CMS).
Say what? CMS is a way for the average person to create and manage a website. WordPress is more than a way to blog. It is the best way to have any type of website you desire.
Some of the biggest companies in the world use WordPress for their serious projects; Ebay, Yahoo, GE, CNN, Ford, Sony and Samsung, to name a few.
By nature, WordPress is very powerful. It can be as complex or as simple as you wish.
There is no need to reinvent the wheel. Get your site online and decide who will run it. You may have the skills and time. Maybe one of your staff would be the perfect choice. Or hiring someone to manage your site could be some of the best money you spend every month.
Actually it is fun to build websites, fan pages and see clients show up in Google Places. Busy….but fun.
Sheila
P.S. Do you look online before you shop?
Related posts:
Glad to hear that you are so busy!
Certainly local businesses are starting in with great expertise from your experience & knowledge base.
Thanks Patricia,
I have to admit sometimes I am surprised at what I do know and I often forget that people just coming on line really do struggle.
[...] Source: http://www.newbielifeline.com/2011/08/locals-are-making-the-online-move.html [...]
This trend of people searching for local stuff online will only go up in the following years. So if you own a local business you just need to have at least a simple website if you want to be successful and “out there”.
Rancid,
I happen to agree that local businesses are missing the boat when they do not have an online presence.
Today, I dropped my sewing machine off for repairs. It has been awhile since I visited the repair shop. So I took a few minutes to look them up on line. Much to my surprise they had a fabulous Facebook fan page. Not only did I find out they were still in business, I found a nice discount coupon.
When I arrived at the store I found that is was now being run by two young men that were very helpful and tech savvy. They had nice QR code displays. I mentioned that they did not have a website…not to worry, it is on it’s way. Smart!
I guess its a must right nowadays to check the product first online, check for reviews and other stuff, before purchasing that product, checking it first can save you tons of money in the future
Hi Teach,
I know I check online first. It saves me soooo much time and like you said, it saves me money. We recently purchased all new appliances for my mother’s home. I checked out the reviews first. This made it easy to pick quality appliances and find the best deals.
When it comes to IM, some say that local business owners are so hard to please, is that true?
Elin,
I would say they are not harder to please than anyone else. Mostly it is a matter of educating them. They need enough knowledge to know that what you are doing is the right path for them.
The right approach, perhaps that’s the key. Well, that blog who rants about local business owners really got me
Elin @ Tandblekning recently posted..Gratis tandblekning från Extreme White
Whether small or big, having an online presence will definitely be a great help to a business break new grounds and gain more clientele. For example, before I go on vacation at a certain place I always go online to look up the restaurants in that area. Good for those restaurants that I’ve looked up because I’ll be visiting them first.
Reese recently posted..Discover More Card Review: Balance Transfer with No Annual Fee