Does Your Business Need a Website?

[websites]

I think it's no longer a question of whether you need online presence, it's a question of whether you need your own website or can you just go "social."

You can establish an online presence by just being on Facebook, Twitter and Google Places. And the good part is it's all free. BUT having your own website gives your business its own face online. It helps a lot in branding and showcasing your products and services to potential customers. However, having your own can cost a lot of time and money if not managed properly.

How do you feel? Which businesses need a website? Which ones can just go "social?"

[TheITConsultant]

I think most businesses if not all should have websites but not many need social media marketing. The ones that should use Facebook etc are those who have return customers and may want to improve customer relationships and advertise promotions.

[madebetterbiz]

I think it's no longer a question of whether you need online presence, it's a question of whether you need your own website or can you just go "social."

You can establish an online presence by just being on Facebook, Twitter and Google Places. And the good part is it's all free. BUT having your own website gives your business its own face online. It helps a lot in branding and showcasing your products and services to potential customers. However, having your own can cost a lot of time and money if not managed properly.

How do you feel? Which businesses need a website? Which ones can just go "social?"

All businesses need a web presence, but web presence need not to be expensive. In fact pretty cheap in my opinion - annually ~$100 - $200!

[v2Media]

All businesses need a web presence, but web presence need not to be expensive. In fact pretty cheap in my opinion - annually ~$100 - $200!

Seems to be the theme for your postings today madebetterbiz, 'cheap cheap cheap'.

In my opinion, with professional services if you pay peanuts - you get monkeys.

[madebetterbiz]

Not every small business can afford websites that costs thousand of dollars. I am merely correcting a misconception that web presence is expensive. I believe anything more than $500 for a website done is expensive. For that matter, if people were to take a little initiative themselves and learn a little html and then use free html editors to work on the website, they can have their website up and hosted for more or less ~ $100 a year.

What is the fundamental purpose of a website? No it is not to show off what the web developer can do with fancy flash or animations, but to spread the words on your products and services.

In research carried out by Dan Ariely - professor of behavioural economics at Duke and author of Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions - it was found that offering more money to complete a task can actually decrease performance! There is also well documented in the book "Scoring Points: How Tesco Continues to Win Customer Loyalty"


The old adage "if you pay peanuts - you get monkeys" has nothing new to offer but it still amuses, and in this laughter and gag, an employer-employee relationship. In reality of the corporate world, where there may be lack of a proper recognition and reward system in companies.

The new adage especially in this technological era, where small businesses thrived over big corporations, where efficiency is the order of the day ---- "Pay too much, create monkeys" Ha Ha Ha

[v2Media]

Not everything is about money mate. Most small business owners are flat out getting their business established. The suggestion of 'learn a little html and use a free editor' is ridiculous for these people who barely have time for their families let alone learning a completely new skill-set. It's ridiculously simplified and impractical advice.

[v2Media]

Ah ha - I see the light. I just visited your site, you're one of the 'cheap' web designers I referred to in a previous post. I can understand the defensive stance and now wish I worded that post without contempt. Apologies if you've been offended in any way.

[madebetterbiz]

Moral (1) of the story is: the internet has level the playing ground ... hence getting websites done, hosted and going live do not need to be as expensive as it made out to be in this thread and forum.

I was once approached by a business owner to help change their contact details on their site, they were quoted $250 by their original design house! I did it for them at $0, dirt cheap. Yes, not everything is about money, and yes, I have gained another trusted client for life.

Moral (2) of the story is: getting a site done is not as difficult as some people want you to believe ... hence they can charge you for more!

v2Media, thanks for the visit and promotion.

[v2Media]

Don't take my apology for agreement with your point of view, nor a cue to stand on a soap box sprouting morals. You service a need for low budget projects and fuel the market that my USA peers target, redesigning sites for dissatisfied clients.

[madebetterbiz]

Don't take my apology for agreement with your point of view, nor a cue to stand on a soap box sprouting morals. You service a need for low budget projects and fuel the market that my USA peers target, redesigning sites for dissatisfied clients.

Thank you just the same.