How your business can benefit from a website.
Sunday 10th May 2009 at 5:06 pm

Most business owners will agree that they would like to have some kind of online presence. The trouble is that many find it difficult to justify the investment, especially if they don’t plan to actually sell directly to the online consumer.

A large proportion of people in the UK use the internet in their job. For millions of these internet savvy people, the internet is the first point of reference when searching for information on a company, a product or service.

Consider these examples of how traditional businesses can benefit from getting established online:

Restaurant/Cafe

With so much competition in this market the key to success is standing out from the crowd. There are countless websites for finding and reviewing cafes and restaurants near where you live. It’s a quick way of finding somewhere to eat, and with reviews and directions at your fingertips, it couldn’t be easier. The best entries also include links to a website.

Using your own website, you can give potential customers an immediate insight into what your business has to offer, photos of your establishment, menus and special offers. Why not add a subscription facility too? You could email out seasonal offers, news, special menus to your subscribers!

One business using their web presence to win customers is Taste, a modern cafe in Romford, Essex. Taste are an award winning company having secured both the “Havering Young Business of the Year 2007” and “Essex-wide New Business of the Year 2008” awards. Their website shows off their modern brand, delicious menus and stylish shop. It’s another part of the overall package that continues to drive their success.

Holiday Homes

This one really is a bricks and mortar business! Many people invest in property abroad. The most important part of a business like this is getting booking - no tenants means no profits.

People search through loads of options when deciding where to go on holiday, they don’t want to waste time getting in touch to request photos and information. Chances are if they can’t find it easily, they will just move on to the next option.

Traditional methods of getting bookings include adverts in magazines or newspapers. By including a website address in these articles the owners can let people browse photos of the property, check availability, prices and get in touch easily.

And the rest ...

I could write all day about different businesses, but to keep it simple here’s a few more ideas to inspire you.

Clothing Business - Establish your brand, show off your styles, help people find you, even sell directly online.

Technology Business - Technology is one of the biggest product genres sold online, bring your business into the 21st century by establishing yourself online.

Specialist Shops - Got an unusual product? An online shop enables you to tap into your niche market on a global scale!

Salons - People want to know they’re going somewhere they can trust. Show off your salon, display price lists and offer directions to your salon online. The Vanilla room is a great example of a salon making the most of being online.

These are just a few examples of how bricks and mortar businesses can use a website to boost sales and not just survive the downturn but grow their business in it. If you’re considering a website, why not get in touch to find out how we can help you.