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A Web Site: To Have or Have Not By: Tim Minnick http://www.intertecweb.com

Maybe you own an established business, or maybe you own a "new" business, or are thinking of buying a business, or starting a business for yourself. If you are any of these people, this question may or may not have crossed your mind, "Do I need a web site for my business?".

This article seeks to help you make that decision, notice I didn't say, this article seeks to answer that question for you. If you own a business or are thinking of buying or starting a business, you're an intelligent individual, perfectly capable of making that decision for yourself. I'll just present you with some information, objections and opinion and let you draw your own conclusion.

First, let's look at a couple of the most common reasons business owners think they may not need a web site, these are real objections from business owners with whom I have spoken concerning a web site for their business. For your business' sake… I certainly hope not, but maybe you think the same thing:

1.We don't have a computer and don't have Internet access at my business, so we don't need a web site. Please don't take offense, but a web site isn't for you to sit in your office and look at, thinking, "my, isn't that pretty". A web site is for your customers or potential customers to learn about you, your business and what products and/or services you provide. It's an opportunity for you to inform your customers, bring in new customers and most importantly an opportunity for you to increase your business' bottom line. After all, isn't your business bottom line what makes you money?

2.We've been in business for 30 years and have never advertised. We've always depended on "word of mouth". My hat is off to you, if you can say this… and I only hope your good fortune continues. But let's face facts. We live in a rapidly changing world. Due to an ever growing increase in population, a population that moves from one end of the country to the other, at any given time, for a multitude of reasons. While word of mouth has always been, and I'm sure will always be the best form of advertising, how about the families that just moved into your neighborhood and haven't made any friends yet, but they have Internet access. They don't have the resource that people that have lived there for 30 years do. Isn't that a missed opportunity?

You've read the objections and opinion. Here's the information:

According to the US Department of Commerce, Internet traffic doubles every 100 days. In the year 2000, there were approximately 102 million Internet users in the US alone. Today, 70% of America is on the Internet. In 1994 the entire Internet economy was $5 Billion, in 1998 that same figure was $301 Billion, and Forrester Research predicted that that figure would be $3.1 Trillion by 2003. Well 2003 is almost over, and the latest statistics available at the time of writing show this to be a reasonable expectation. 65% of people in America that are on the Internet make their buying decisions online… there are more people that access the Internet when they're looking to buy products and services than there are that pick up the yellow pages.

Now, I ask you, does your business need a web site?

There are many qualified web designers that are quite capable of developing a cost effective, aesthetically appealing and functional web site for your business. You can find them on the web or in the phone book. Good luck with your business!

About the author:
Tim Minnick is the Director of Intertec Web Solutions. He has been developing Aesthetically appealing, functional web sites for businesses ranging from Banks to Trucking Companies for nearly 6 years. He thrives on the challenge of developing an exciting and interesting web site.