Because you’re an entrepreneur, I’d be willing to bet you already have a website
up and running. And that’s great. But have you taken that website to the next
level? I speak with far too many companies that throw a couple webpages together,
put them online and call it good.
up and running. And that’s great. But have you taken that website to the next
level? I speak with far too many companies that throw a couple webpages together,
put them online and call it good.
What is a random visitor supposed to do with a website like that? Most viewers will give you
about 10 seconds to decide if your site is worth viewing. If you have really interesting content,
they might give you 30 seconds. If you haven’t used your space on the Internet to capture and
retain their attention, the next thing you know, the person is gone.
Now, call me old fashioned, but I believe that when I invest my own time, or pay for someone to
create something for me, it should do what I need it to do. In the case of small businesses, they
need customers. So this chapter discusses the need to get your website working for you.
Your website should attract viewers, provide an interactive experience for them, and ultimately,
provide you with additional leads. But too many websites fail to do all three (or even just one) of
these things.
Harness the Power of the Internet
The average adult spends up to 3 hours a day more on the Internet than they spend watching television. About 70% of the U.S. population regularly use the Internet. Over 1 billion people in the world are online. And this is a vast chunk of your market! These are your customers! But only if you have a website that draws them in.
Unfortunately, not everyone understands the power of the Internet. In fact, an Arthur Anderson study (Survey of Small and Mid- Sized Businesses: Trends for 2000) showed that 16% of small business owners viewed the Internet as a threat. I sincerely hope that 8 years later, that number has decreased to 0% percent. The Internet is not a hindrance or a threat to small businesses. In actuality, not using the Internet, or not maximizing your web presence can have devastating consequences.
It’s as if some unspoken fear of the Internet keeps small businesses from capitalizing on Internet
possibilities. They have a website because they were told to get one. But, they don’t truly understand that their web presence might mean the difference between a small market, and an enormous market.
possibilities. They have a website because they were told to get one. But, they don’t truly understand that their web presence might mean the difference between a small market, and an enormous market.
© 2008 By Clate Mask
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