This is a free service designed to give you some useful (we hope) information about web sites, site rankings, and why your company or organization needs a web site.
So lets start with that, we have a tendency to look at things through our own prism. I don’t advertize in the phone book and I don’t use one, in fact I don’t think we even have one at my house.
You may say that you don’t know anyone that uses the computer to find things they are looking for.
The truth is some place in the middle, but one thing is for sure, studies show that everyday more and more people are turning to the internet and web sites to find what they need.
I look at it this way, if I am only concerned about local customers than an add in the local paper, or the phone book may be a good idea, however a web site is a better value.
A web site will cost more money up front in design, however once it is built and launched you are looking at a entry level of around $.30 per day. If you have a $250 per year add in the phone book you are looking at around $.70 per day. Consider this, a web site will give you a full page, in color, in which you can display your work, your building, or even sale you products, 24 hours a day, 7days a week, and no phone book add can do that.
So it is my opinion that if you desire a phone book add then, the best plan for local traffic is a small add in the phone book with your web site listed in the add.
It all comes down to this, even though times have changed you still need to know your customers and think of the best way to reach them. If you target customer is older than the phone book is a better choice and if they are younger you should look at a web site.
Another benefit to a web site is convenience. With a web site you have a link that you can click and sent the company a e-mail to place and order or ask a question. Every morning when I get into the office I have a stack of e-mails that cam in over night.
Now think of it this way, you an I each have a company that sales widgets, I have a web site and you do not. During the night a local customer when on line in the web version of the phone book and looked up our companies, the customer clicked the link and went to my site and sent me a e-mail asking about a red widget. He must wait until morning to call you, but before he can I have responded to his question and even called him on the phone number he gave me in the e-mail. Now just look at the jump I have on you, that happens to me every day.
Look the fact is times are though and could very well get tougher, you need to have every advantage you can in order to get the sale.
Now finally here is the best reason of all, lets say you have a customer that is just looking to “kick the tires”, we have all had them, worst of all some of them have no intention of buying anything they are just curious.
With a web site they can get all or most of their questions answered, and the customer that are serious about buying something will be more informed when they call. Think of how much time that will save you and/or your employees.
Or how about an on line questionnaire, before you even talk to the customer you know what their needs are. I am always amazed when I see sites that are wasting time, what about a car lot with a online credit app.? Or how about a rental agency with a customer request form on line? The possibilities are endless and they all lead to the same thing, they save you time and that helps the bottom line.
At Flints Design our goal is to help you become more effective, to reach more people, and use our experience to think outside the box, give us a call and we will be happy to help you. 801-259-2877