Do these statements ring any bells?
1. No one seems to be viewing my website!
2. I never get any enquiries!
3. My website brings in little or no income!
4. I get better results from word of mouth!
5. My existing customers are always placing orders, so I don’t need to bother!
6. The web is here today gone tomorrow!
7. I don’t need the added expense!
8. Most of my customers don’t use the web, they pick up the telephone!
My reply would be! From answers 1-8.
1. No one seems to be viewing my website! There are many reasons for this! But the main answers would be:
• Has the website been optimised?
• How do you know that no one is viewing your website?
• Does the home page show all the services and products that you offer?
• Does the home page grab the potential customer’s attention?
2. I never get any enquiries! Enquiries may not be coming in because?
• Is it clear enough where to submit an enquiry?
• Submit an enquiry button is not on the home page!
• The enquiry page is too complicated!
• Is the website interesting enough to make customer make an enquiry?
• Has the customer found what they want?
3. My website brings in little or no income?
• Chicken and egg! No visitors to the website, no enquiries, no sales!
4. I get better results from word of mouth! Word of mouth is an excellent way of producing new business, but!
• Not everyone spreads the word!
• You have to have more than one string to your bow!
• By looking at your website is by far the best way a potential customer can check you out!
• First impressions count for a lot!
5. Existing customers are very important!
• New customers are equally as important!
• Do your existing customers want to order online! Have you asked?
• Are your existing customers aware of all the products or services you have to offer!
6. The web is here today gone tomorrow!
• Business on the web is increasing every year, many companies and smaller businesses now set aside an annual budget for web and online marketing.
• Busy people of today do not have the time in normal working hours to call you! They want to look and place their orders online.
• Many companies have restricted or even cut out completely the normal paper and yellow pages style of advertising, realising web is the way forward!
• No company’s website is perfect for everyone’s use; however the basis of the any good website is clear navigation, easy to use, straight to the point, fast loading pages! Good interesting content. Enables customers to find what they want easily.
7. I don’t need the added expense!
• Can I afford not to?
• Speculate to accumulate!
• Are my competitors leaving me behind?
• Probably even your most archaic of competitors are now on the web!
8. Most of my customers don’t use the web, they pick up the telephone!
• Do you know this for a fact?
• If you could sell online, would they spend more?
• What about after working hours and you’re not there, and they want to place an order?
To summarise:
Many people and potential customers of all ages are now searching and buying items online. Christmas 2011 saw a huge increase in online sales with many businesses making the most of what had been a tough year.
Websites were also something of an afterthought and were something they thought they had to have because their competitors did. These thoughts have changed, and have been for some time. Businesses are now setting aside budgets in their marketing plans for website development, and with social media now fully on board for many companies, they are now extracting new revenues that they hadn’t had before.
Customers are now more aware of the products and services they offer and in many cases this is saving money for companies, who now do not have to design and print expensive brochures and magazines, these can now be viewed and downloaded on the web.
If you would like your questions answered, contact us for an informal chat.
If you are open to an informal chat about how the web can work for your business then please contact us, using the information below.
Email: info@gmlconsulting.co.uk, By Phone: 01603 508066 or by visiting our Website: www.gmlconsulting.co.uk
