Having a website is such a common, beneficial, no-brainer marketing move these days that perhaps it’s better to ask why you wouldn’t want a website. What reason could you possibly have for not wanting an online presence?
Too Expensive
The first and loudest complaint might be that a website is just too expensive. And in some cases that’s true. If you’re springing for custom design from topnotch graphic designers, if you need a custom content management system created from scratch by Internet nerds that make Bill Gates look cool, if you want video and music and animation and all the extras—then yes, it will cost a fortune.
It would also be a waste of money. Instead of shelling out all that cash you can get good design with templates. You can use a free or inexpensive content management system like WordPress. You don’t even need video or music or animation—often times those extras can just be over the top and annoying.
Just like anything else, the price of a website depends on a number of factors, but it can range from free to way too much. But a perfectly serviceable—and profitable—website can be had for a minimal investment. (What’s a minimal investment? Our packages start at $199.)
Too Techie
Another standard reason not to have a website is the slightly befuddled look that comes when someone asks about a website. “How do I even set that up?” You don’t have to be a Luddite to fall into this camp. For many folks working the mouse and navigating a website is enough of a challenge, never mind actually building their own website.
Luddites, rejoice: You don’t have to be a techie to have a website. There are options that take away the heavy tech lifting and make running a website as easy as typing an e-mail. And if typing an e-mail is too much, there are services that will cover the whole shebang. Most of these options will boost the price tag, but depending on what you need and how much you’re willing to learn how to do yourself, you can still get a good website without being a techno genius and without breaking the bank.
Too Time Intensive
If you run your own business you don’t need to be reminded that you’re too busy for a website. You don’t have the spare minutes to learn what needs to be done, how to set it up and keep the site going.
But you also might find that you can’t afford not to take the time. More and more people are online and those people are doing more and more things online. If you’re not online, they’ll pass you by.
Launching and maintaining a website does take time, but it shouldn’t overwhelm your calendar. And if you do it right, your website should more than pay for the time you spend.
Much like the price tag, how much time you want to spend on your site can vary. Maybe all you need is a basic site with minimal updates. You could be up and running in a few hours and maintenance could take maybe an hour per month. Even a more involved set up with frequent updates doesn’t have to take forever. An hour per week amounts to less than 15 minutes per day. If that effort pays for itself, what’s the harm?
If you’re too busy getting rich from your business to have a website, then maybe you don’t need one. But if you find things slowing down or the return for your time and effort not being as good as it used to be, then a website might be the answer.
Bottom Line
There are very few reasons not to have a website. But websites being too expensive, too techie and too time intensive are not among them.
