October 15 is the deadline to file a tax return if you got an extension in April. I don’t know about you, but filing tax returns isn’t something that I particularly enjoy. Same thing with paying bills, keeping the books in order and keeping the inventory updated.
Yet we do it anyway. We do it because these sometimes difficult, out-of-our-comfort-zone tasks are essential to running a business.
I say, having an effective web presence is just as essential to running a business today.
The World Is Changing
Sales is another task which is essential to a business. No one would argue against that. Today, the way that sales is conducted has changed. Increasingly, customers are buying online and in many cases you don’t even need to meet your customer in person to make a sale.
More and more, your web presence is becoming your most important sales tool. But creating an effective web presence is difficult. It’s out of our comfort zone–just like filing tax returns. But if you acknowledge that it’s an essential sales tool, you can’t afford to ignore it!
Your web presence starts with your website. You already know that, but you need to hear the reasons again.
Consumers are looking for you… online. Which is easier: Typing a search term into Google or looking up the Yellow Pages? Consumer habits have shifted and many begin their search for products and services they need online. If you don’t have a website, they can’t find you. However, they will find your competitors who are online.
It’s the hub of your web marketing. Your website is your 24-hour salesman. It’s the only place on the web where the visitor’s attention is fully dedicated to you. Your website gives your business legitimacy and authority. It’s where customers get to know, like and trust you.
Facebook and Twitter are not enough. Ok you may have 1,000+ social media friends but those are ‘fun’ channels where your prospects are not in a buying mode. If you have a website, you can direct your social media followers there where you can make the case for your business more effectively.
Outspoken Media gives us 11 Reasons Your SMB Still Needs A Web Site.
It’s Not That Hard, Really
If you are in business for real, you’ve just got to suck it up and start building up that web presence of yours. Luckily, with the new tools and technologies available today, you can create an effective web presence without needing a million-dollar budget or needing to write a single line of code. Our Website ClickStart: Simplifying the Steps to Creating Your First Website series is a fat-free guide for doing just that.
The important thing is to make that mental leap. Instead of treating your website as an optional item, acknowledge it as an essential operational part of your business. When you’ve made that shift in your mindset, you’re on your way to creating an effective web presence for your business.
Next Actions
- Acknowledge that your web presence is a fundamental part of your business operations
- Commit to investing your time and money to create or update your website
- Start learning and planning how to create your website. Read the Website ClickStart series.
Photo credit: José Encarnação and iStockphoto
The ClickStarter 
bryan domani