Do Small Business Owners Need a Website?

“I don’t sell products online, so I don’t need a website.” That’s a common statement heard from small business owners. But you don’t have to sell products online to benefit from having a website. Entrepreneur.com emphasizes how a web presence helps customers, potential employees, business partners and even investors be able to quickly and easily find out more about your business and the products or services you offer.

In this vlog, Karen Dayan, Senior Marketing Manager, Microsoft Office Live Small Business discusses the importance of websites for small business owners.

<a href="http://media.dellone2one.com/dell/May2008/Vison2Venture_KarenDayan_web_converted.flv"><img src="http://direct2dell.com/photos/videos/images/64800/300x225.aspx" border = "0" width="300" height="225"></a><br /><a href = "http://media.dellone2one.com/dell/May2008/Vison2Venture_KarenDayan_web_converted.flv">View Video</a><br />Format: flv<br />Duration: 4:06

Format: flv
Duration: 4:06
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If you decide a website is for you (or if you already have a website and are looking to improve it), here are some resources to help you out.

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brian said:

Small businesses do need a website because a website helps establish credibility.


I know of small businesses who have lost work because people found them in yellow pages, their competitors had websites and those competitors got the work (in case you're wondering how they know, many small businesses talk to their competitors)

 Even if it is just a simple, neat page, it shows you take business seriously. Like the business card, it has become an essential.
 

Roseanne said:

[...]Bruno Sardo made a presentation at last week's IIA Congress about Dell's social networking. He mentioned in particular their very proactive IdeaStorm which is a simple but brilliant use of Web 2.0 technologies. [...] http://blog.iia.ie/2008/bruno-were-blushing/

@Brian - I think that's very true and as Bruno mentions above, Barry Meehan above is an example of the return of investment of 2 hours work a week on a blog.

Sean Smith said:

hi,

I work for a business to business process selling websites for business in UK. 98% business owner says that they are not interested as they have websites. Our company make, update, maintain and give different feature for a existing website also. Can you help me giving some sales tips where the customer can be interested.

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