At the end of 2009, the number of Internet subscribers in Australia reached 9.1 million, getting close to nearly half of the entire population. That fact provided by the Australia Bureau of Statistics only accounts for subscribers, and not for the number of Internet users in total, which was also said in 2009 to reach the 17 million mark.
With statistics like these, there is really no reason why you should not be getting your business online today. The position of the Internet in today’s lifestyle makes it virtually impossible to not see benefits by initiating the change, and doing so has never been quite so affordable. Plus, advancements in Web-related software programs leave you with no excuse because building a website can be considered so easy a child could do it.
Need more convincing?
Let’s investigate the benefits of operating a business online as opposed to offline.
Rent – The only rent you will pay to get online is for hosting space on a web server. Basically, web hosting is the portion of a server that will store the virtual files, images and documents that make up your website, in addition to your emails. Web hosting can be as little as just a few dollars a month depending on how much space you need.
>> Read more about our Business Web Hosting Packages
Staff – The amount of staff needed to run the website or online shopping cart can seriously be a single person. Most of the time, a website may answer any questions a web customer may have, meaning there is no need to call or operate face-to-face. If you run an ecommerce shop, taking money and sending invoices can be done through the shop automatically, meaning you only have to package up and ship out whatever has been sold.
>> Read more about the Digital Pacific Shopping Cart
Automation – Putting a business online offers a certain level of automation, meaning you can spend your time where the business needs it most. As stated above, a website can direct users to answers for their questions and order products without ever needing to take away from any employee’s time.
24 Hours – Websites never sleep! When you or your employees from an offline business take off to head home, the online business is still working, and still possibly making you money.
New Markets – The Internet is a tool that most anyone can use, and even in the most remote locations. By putting your business online, you might be gaining access to new markets that you weren’t able to otherwise.
Both product and service businesses gain.
Don’t think that you need to sell a physical product to put your business online. Even service-focused businesses can benefit by having a website.
Consider this: Where do you look when you need to find a plumber in Sydney… the phone book? Most people nowadays simply pull up a Google search box and type in “Sydney plumber” to find what they are looking for. Sure, getting a phone number listed doesn’t necessarily mean that you need a website, but those with one that potential customers can view just might have the better shot at getting that business. Having a website in today’s world means that you simply come off as more professional and put together, and when customers are given the option, they will most likely choose whichever appears the best.
An online presence can back up the word of mouth mentions.
If anything, a website alone can display to potential customers examples of your work. If you fix up cars, you can put up the before and after pictures. If you run a photography studio, you can let people view your style. The Internet makes it so easy for someone to make a decision right then and there as to whether or not they want to go with your business. Just imagine a friend going on about the portraits they had taken at a specific studio. They just might throw in that the studio has a website, so before taking their word you might pop on to have a look of your own.
What to do now.
If you’re thinking that you might want to get your business online, it is a good idea to map out a plan. Sure, the Web can bring you some attention, but it doesn’t just happen without a little bit of forethought. Here are some ideas to keep in mind when choosing your online method:
- Who is your target market? Finding your target market will help you design your site, include the right key words and advertise in the right areas on the Web.
- What do you hope to accomplish with the online presence? Do you want to sell products online, sign people up for newsletters, display previous work or build a community? Each goal has it’s own type of website. Perhaps you decide that sharing company insights is your draw, and that can be done through a business blog.
- How much time and effort are you willing to put in? Website creation solutions run from easy to hard, so it is up to you, the owner, the amount of work and/or money you invest.
If you’ve made it through all of this information, then you are probably ready to get your business online. All the tools and information to do so can be found in this article, but if you still have questions you can easily phone our sales team at 1300MYHOST. They are always happy to help guide you in the proper direction.
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