Why Businesses Need Websites and a Visible Presence

In today's business environment the axiom "You're not in business unless you're on the web" is no longer fiction. It's a fact. Why? The answer is quite simple.

When someone is looking for a product or service, they turn to their computers and do a search for whatever it is they are seeking. Going back 10 or 15 years, most people would pull out a printed copy of YellowPages or some other printed directory. Today, only a scant few look in printed materials for what they are seeking. The majority now go to the internet. Even here, the majority of searches that take place are done in one place - Google. Recent published statistics show that 95% of all searches are done on Google - the search engine of choice for the vast majority. The rest of the search engines and specialty listings (such as Goldbook & YellowPages) split the remainder of searches amongst themselves.

How often have you spoken with a potential client and they've asked if you have a website. Most people today want to see your web presence, check you out online and then continue their dialog with you. Your website adds credence to your business. It shows others you're serious about doing business.

Once you have a website, you still need to be found, and the best place to be found is in the Google Search Results pages. Getting to the first page of search results returns then becomes a concern, because without being close to the top, you're still "invisible" to your market. There are a few ways to get there, but I will leave that discussion open for now. Suffice it to say that if your website is well built, contains relevant information about your product or service (relevant to surfers, your industry and to the search engine) you may be lucky enough to end up on the first page of results organically, without spending too much money.