Is your website asleep? – 10 reasons to wake

it up

Whether we like it or not, websites grow old rapidly and even after a couple of years a state

of the art website may need a virtual walking stick.

Here’s why investing in your website is not just important but absolutely essential, plus a few

tips on how to ensure your website is actually awake (and breathing!!):

1. Cost Effective Marketing

Your website should be your company’s shop window and best sales person rolled into one

but at a fraction of the cost.

It provides the vital first impression of your company and conveys the message you want to

tell the world. When done correctly, it will result in winning you more business.

72% of visitors to your site will make an impression on your business within 3 seconds of the

page loading (source: Resource Techniques).

2. Keeping your Competition Edge

We’re all in competition and if our competitors have a brilliant, effective website then we

know where the potential customers will end up.

3. Being dynamic

Websites have become more interactive and visually stimulating as technology has developed

and we have learned the most effective way to provide content.

Slow loading websites rammed with wording, stock images and huge banner adverts

effectively telling people to leave their website are becoming rare.

By asking friends to give you an honest opinion on your website you’ll get a great insight –

warning the truth may hurt.

4. Improved Customer Service

Videos, forums, blogs, downloadable manuals and Q &A’s provide your clients instant

answers to queries.

Cutting down questions and calls direct to the office will free resources to be spent elsewhere

at the same time as keeping customers satisfied.

5. Being found

Google is the resource for any prospective client to find your products and/or services. If they

can’t find your company then they are placing business with your competitors.

There are many ways to increase your google ranking (this is SEO – ‘Search Engine

Optimisation’ and is a science in its own right), importantly remember keep your content

fresh and relevant. Don’t despair that this is a “dark art” and after all, not everyone can be

ranked top of the page.

6. Advertising to the masses

Got a new product, special offer or just want to tell the world why your company is the best

thing since sliced bread – no advertising medium even comes close to the internet.

7. Anyone can see your site and it’s open all hours

Your website is never on holiday, puts its feet up to watch the TV at the weekend or gets

depressed due to the English weather.

There are over two billion internet users and potential customers are looking for your

business 24/7/365.

8. Increase Efficiency

Whether an on-line shop or capturing data for your CRM (customer relationship

management) system, your website can passively sell and collect data without your direct

involvement.

Newsletters, prize draws or giveaways are excellent ways to collect data on prospective

customers.

9. Communicate effectively

A flyer has limited content and a brochure can be quickly binned, out-dated or mislaid.

Effective websites have simple navigation which takes a prospective client directly to the

information with minimum effort and will never be lost or thrown away.

10. Being Social – The power of social media

Your industry is probably being talked about somewhere on the internet right now, so

contributing to social media allows you to promote your company, be in touch with your

customers and increase your business network.

Receiving a google+ for your webpage will also increase your google ranking and allow

reviews to appear when your company appears on searches.