If it's not on the Web, it doesn't exist at all
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FSB News release, 14 November 2008 PR/2008/78
Use the Internet to increase sales during the downturn, says the FSB
Nearly half of small businesses that use the Internet to advertise their firm increase turnover by one fifth
The FSB's biennial survey of 8,700 members found that 43 per cent of respondents improved their sales after linking to suppliers and using their website to advertise their firm, showing the ever-increasing value of the Internet to business transactions, particularly during an economic downturn.
The survey also revealed that the number of small businesses who have their own website has leapt by a quarter to around 70 per cent since the last survey.
The number of small businesses who have their own website has grown over the past two years, which indicates that small firms are becoming increasingly internet-savvy. Despite the onset of an economic downturn, all small firms should look to the Internet to maximize their sales and increase efficiency.
The small business' website can introduce products to new customers, increase income from ad programs, and communicate more effectively with new and current customers.
But for the small business owner, a great website can mean the difference between scraping by, and really being successful.
In addition to efficiently presenting your services to the world, website can save a great deal of money in advertising costs.
Increasing product awareness to customers via a website will increase direct revenue.
Every small business, and the smallest of small businesses, will spend hundreds of dollars a month on their telephone; they'll spend hundreds each year on their yellow pages and local advertising and hundreds more on letterheads and business cards for staff. Many businesses will even spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars extra on their office or shop lease to be in the best position for their customers. Any business that has started in the last 50 years knows how important all these elements are to having a mere chance of success.
Today we live in an era of the internet - the most powerful, most accessible, dynamic communication system ever known to human kind. Most of us will turn immediately to the internet for answers to the simplest quests to find products and services.
Most people will be looking and asking for the website of businesses that are suggested to them.
For people a website best answers who, what, why, how and when the business can help them. For the business it is the best chance they have to fully and completely express who they are, how and why they are special and best able to provide the value people are looking for.
The worst thing you can do is spend hundreds a month on your telephone, thousands a year on local advertising, more on your office or shop lease than you may need and not have a web site. Even the most basic web site is as critical to the success of your business as your telephone, business cards, advertising or even your office or shop.
If you don't have a web site, or you've held back spending on your website don't expect to gain too much new business - you could risk losing a lot of sales.
Investing in your website to the level that you spend on your telephone and business cards each year will earn far greater results than both combined.
It's your web site that will seal the deal, clinch the sale and reel in the business.