Do I need a website?

Many websites are created without any consideration given to what purpose they will serve. I have a company, I need a web presence, is a line of thinking that needs to end with: why? Why do you need a web presence? Some might say that “you just need one because you are a company that exists beyond the year 2000.” Excuse me, but I just don’t agree. If a website does not actually work for you then why spend money on it? And by work for you I mean make you money.

Websites can make you money in many ways from the obvious to the not so obvious:

• E-Commerce. Of course the first way a website can make you money is directly as an online shop. Users come into your website, browse through your products, pick what they want, and pay.
• Leads. Users come into your site, and in much the same way as a person who actually reads your knock and drop print flyer, decides that they like what you have to offer, phone you, and become a lead or potential customer.
• Closer. You have spoken to a potential customer on the golf course who has expressed an interest in your product. You have spent the next 5 holes convincing her that her money would be best spent with you, and at the end you pass her your business card with website address and direct her to a more detailed description of your product.
• Customer retention. Someone is already a customer and enjoys the ease with which he can deal with you through your website, so doesn’t go looking too hard at your competitors.
  Before you head out to your nearest web developer, you need to ask yourself how you intend using your site. Are you using your site to close the deal? Then you need it to act as a brochure or detailed product catalog. Are you using it to generate leads? Then you need it to draw traffic, and if that is the case you need to decide how your website will draw traffic?