Web users have become more savvy and are discerning about who they will do business with. If you find your website isn’t pulling in business it may because it doesn’t look like you’re in business!
Get Grounded. Whether you’re selling a product or selling your services, your customers want to know where you do business and that they can find you. You should give a business address on your website. If you have a home-based business and wish to maintain your privacy, rent a mail box. Having an address makes your business part of the community.
Get a Phone. When you have just an email address on your website looks like your business is not fully formed and that it won’t be there through time. Some people still prefer to call rather than email. Get a telephone number. If you don’t want to make your home telephone public on the Internet, have an additional line installed. You are in business and can’t afford to cut corners on having a business telephone.
Get a New Email Address. You bought your domain name for your website; you should be using it for email too. Using a hotmail, yahoo, bigfoot, etc., email account for business says “fly-by-night” to some people.
Get a Line. Slow email responses because of a slow Internet connection makes a business appear unorganized, incapable of handling more clients or orders. If replying to email is put off because the only way to view it is at the library, or because it takes forever to download; it’s time to get cable, DSL, or other high-speed connection.
Get a Box! Please be sure you’re sitting down – I’ve had past clients who know they need a website to be a viable business in today’s marketplace, but don’t use and don’t own a computer! I no longer work with clients who don’t have a computer access because unless they have email they will never reap the full benefit of having a website. A web visitor expects to be able to send an email as the simplest form of interaction with the owner of a website.
Bottom Line: Give web visitors a contact address and telephone, a permanent email address, and invest in the longevity of your business by having a computer and the fastest Internet provider you can afford.
