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(I will never rent, trade, or sell your information) * = required fieldI have been noticing a trend among some people who I have spoken to about launching their business website. Many are interested in delaying their web development project. This is especially the case with people who are just launching, or re-launching their business. The truth is, there are several compelling reasons why your website is the last thing you should be delaying.
When you are first launching a business there seem to be innumerable things that are on the to-do list. You might be drafting business plans, seeking outside financing, completing legal processes such as incorporation or getting trademarks registered, perfecting your products and services, writing sales and marketing copy about your business, among other things. With all these important things on the table, it’s easy to push off getting started on your website until “later”. Your website might appear to be tangential to your business, but nothing could be further from the truth.
What is business, after all? I mean, is the purpose of your business to create a legal entity, write sales copy, and buy new office equipment? Or is the purpose of your business to share your products and services with the world, while collecting revenues which support you, your family, and your lifestyle? Assuming that you picked the latter option, allow mw to explain how your website is related to this purpose.
In order to share your expertise with your clients (while making money) you need one thing: customers. I think it is safe to say that without customers your business serves no purpose at all. How do you get these customers? With marketing. Whether your marketing involves speaking to groups or on tele-classes, sending out email or direct mail, advertising or networking, Facebook or Adwords, you cannot start any marketing campaign without a website. Period.
This might seem to be a very bold statement, but I’m sure that if you think about it for just a minute you will see why it is true. First, the obvious – if you plan to do any marketing online, the only reasonable thing to do is to send prospects to your website to learn about your services and products and how to start working with you. Whether you are using Linked-in or videos or Google, “click” is what your prospects are going to do. If you don’t have a website in place, where will that click take them? Second, the thing that is true about any type of marketing – including networking, speaking, direct-mail, and other “offline” methods – is that these days people want to see a website for more information about your business before they will be willing to work with you or buy from you. Just having a domain name on your business card will assure prospects that you are operating a serious business. Having an email address on your own domain, instead of a free email service, clearly says “I am a professional.” What message do you think not having a website (or showcasing the email address “jferd2585@hotmail.com”) sends to your prospects?
You might say “I’m just starting out – I don’t have any customers yet, and I therefore can’t afford a website.” I understand your worry. A high quality website (which requires a decent logo, and possibly a good headshot as well) is not as cheap as a new file cabinet. This is an example of the classic “what comes first – the chicken or the egg?” conundrum. What this leaves us with is a simple choice –Do you want to struggle along, spending time and money on necessary things for your business which will not directly bring customers and hope something miraculous happens which starts the flow of revenue? or Do you want to stand up and have faith in your business, invest in developing the professional online presence required, and know that you are ready to implement any marketing plans and are prepared to take advantage of good opportunities when they arise? Believe it or not, this is the real choice.
I personally hope you choose the second option. I have a feeling that your business has something special to bring to the world. There are people who are looking for what you are offering. They need you.
Also, I would hate to see you get frustrated with your business before it has really had the chance to blossom. Once your website is launched, many of the other projects and problems you are facing will be easier to solve.
A few examples of problems that can be solved by having the right website:
If you have been delaying getting started on your website, ask yourself these questions and answer with the utmost honesty. (Your business depends on it.)
Let me assure you that there are ways to handle every one of the possible reasons for procrastinating I listed with the first question. The aim here is to unearth all the real reasons and deal with them directly. If you can do that, your business will thrive.
Launching your website will open the doors of your business. Some people keep saying “I’ll market my business when I get the website done, but first I have these other things to do…” Many others have told me that their business took off after they got the right website in place and working for them. Which would you like to be? If you are seriously ready to launch or re-launch your business and a new website is part of that plan, please contact me today so you don’t wait another minute getting the most important thing on your to-do list done.
