How often do you use your phonebook? In fact, when was the last time you even saw your phonebook? Truth be told, your phonebook is probably being used to prop up your computer screen or it’s tucked away in some corner of your house that you never knew existed.

For many of us, the idea of using a phonebook to look up a business seems a bit archaic. You’ll find that most people will often “Google” a business’ website and find the result they’re after in a matter of seconds. Nevermind flicking through page after page, reciting the alphabet numerous times in search of the business you’re after: the internet (and Google) takes the hassle out of searching and gets you where you need to go, faster.

The internet has truly revolutionised the way we do business and that trend is likely to continue. But it’s not just business thats changed, it’s our everyday routines.

We’re all accustomed to using the internet for a myriad of reasons, whether it’s searching for odd trinkets on Trade Me, looking up movie times at your local cinema or even grocery shopping. Grocery shopping! Less than twenty years ago, the idea must have seemed absurd. These days, it’s the norm. You can shop for just about anything online and have your goods delivered to your door in a matter of days. It’s not just shopping online, you can look for your local cafe or book your car in for a service at the AA. The internet also gives you the capability to bank quickly and securely online, reducing the need to visit the bank or pick up the phone. The internet has broken trends and put new ones in place, creating a dynamic and efficient environment for everyone.

And let’s not forget social media, which plays a big part in our professional and personal lives. Social media allows us to connect, whether you’re “Facebooking” a friend or you’re promoting your business via Google Pages. The internet plays a huge role in our everyday lives and it’s here to stay. So the big question is, why do businesses refuse to get a website?

Many business owners seem to think that owning a website is an unnecessary luxury. Despite advances in technology, business owners seem to disregard the internet market all together. Perhaps it’s the stigma associated with a non-tangible item, meaning you can’t actually touch your website. Or maybe they think the return on investment is low when compared with traditional marketing means. Whatever the reason, getting a website is one of the smartest moves a business owner can make in todays relentless market.

If you look at the functionality of a website, I’m sure you’d be impressed. Websites provide your business with so much capability, it’s a mystery why most businesses are ignoring the fact that they need one.

The first principle that a website caters to is marketing. To operate a successful business, you’ll need to market constantly. We see it all the time: tv, radio, newspapers and magazines, billboards, buses, fliers and the list continues. These traditional marketing means are usually limited by location and time. And let’s not mention the costs associated with each method. A website acts as a marketing tool. It’s always online and always accessible. That means your customers can access your website whenever they like. Now compare that to a newspaper advertisement or flier. Both of these mediums require your targeted customer to be paying attention to your specific advertisement, while they’re bombarded with similar or even better ads. If you’ve sent out a flier, the chances of it being read are mininal. In most cases, it’s probably in the bin or being used as a coaster for a hot cup of coffee. If you’ve advertised in a newspaper, then you might have a little more luck, but unless you’re a big company with a huge advertising budget, I think it’s safe to say you didn’t pay for a full page, coloured advertisement. With both these mediums and ones similar to them, the return on investment isn’t what we expect after we’ve paid a fortune. Your website will cost a fraction of the price and has a proven return on investment.

Communicating with customers is another important factor when it comes to running a business. It’s imperative that you keep your current client base happy and at the same time, you’re bringing in new clients at every opportunity. A website allows you to keep your current and future clients or customers up to date with new products or services. Your website acts a full time salesman, welcoming hundreds of customers on a daily basis. Your prospective customers can search for websites for what they need and contact you via email or even social media. Your current client base can provide testimonials which is important when you’re constantly after new customers. The phenomenon of social proof occurs here: when we we’re about to make a decision, we might look at what others have done to guide us. Testimonials and constant interaction with your customers is a great way to stay connected with clients and keep them happy.

The biggest deterrent when it comes to getting a website is price. Surely, if a website can do so much, then they must be expensive, right? We’ll lets put things in perspective. If you lease a website from us with internet marketing capability, that’ll cost you only $85 per month. That means all your website expenses are covered and any basic online advertising. You’ve got all the features we’ve talked about and also have an effective marketing strategy in place to get your business online. Now compare that with a newspaper ad in the Herald. To advertise in the classifieds section on a Monday will cost you around $40 per col/cm (That’s column width by height and columns are about 3.6cm). Let’s say you want an ad thats 10cm by 10cm. In total, you’ve paid approximately $800 for a miniscule advertisement that will feature for ONE day. For that amount, you could have had your website up and running for around 9 months with effective marketing to follow.

The world is constantly changing and it’s important that you keep up with new trends. It may appear difficult at first but if you put things in perspective, you could really give your business a boost without paying a fortune. There’s really no reason not to get a website.