Why Get a Website?
by Rich Matheson, Founder of Delphinus Web Design

Everyone is jumping on to the website bandwagon these days. Maybe you've thought you'd get around to it someday, or maybe you wanted to wait and see if the Internet was just a fad. Maybe you're fed up with all this newfangled technology and want your business to succeed on its own merits, without using one of those trendy website things. Hopefully this document will shed some light on not only why it's a great idea to get a website, but why getting it now is a smart move.

What is a Website?

A website is the easiest and most efficient way to share information in the 21st century. Some people use them to show pictures of their grandkids. Some people have web-cams that show what's going on in their office 24 hours a day. Millions of people worldwide are using websites to share information, from something as trivial as what music groups they like, to things as useful as genealogical information, where distant family members can pool their resources and learn about anscestors together. The Internet has revolutionized the way people communicate, and has literally made the entire planet a community. Never before has it been commonplace to "hang out" with people in Canada, England, Australia, and Germany simultaneously, in the comfort of your own home. Now, it's possible; and it's not going away.

The Internet is not a fad or a trend. The Internet, or something similar, will be with us for a very long time. The World Wide Web is only one part of the entity known as "The Internet". If you're reading this, you already have a grasp of what the Web is, and what it does. The question now becomes, "Why do I need a website?". The Web is absolutely the best way to promote your business. How much information can you get on a business card or a phone book ad? Or even a huge billboard near the interstate? A 30-second television commercial? None of these forms of advertisement share a fraction of the information provided by a website, and most of them are far more expensive.

A Wealth of Information

A website can offer your customers and potential customers an incredible amount of information. By simply typing in your web address, your customer base can have access to your:

That's just for starters. You can have a 360-degree panoramic view of your place of business on your website. You can have audio feeds of radio commercials or anything else on your website. You can create a virtual "brochure" of your company that engages the senses, rather than simply "being there" for people to see. And if any of the above information changes, it is easy to change on your website. If you want to add something to the site later, the possibility is always there. A website can be as dynamic as the company it represents.

Time is of the Essence

Without wanting to sound alarmist, it should be mentioned that if you want to get a website, the time to do it is now. This company's name is Delphinus Web Design, and you can't imagine the stress of trying to find a web address with Delphinus in the name. Domain names are dropping off like flies. It's often hard to find a "dotcom" that fits your company's name, and ".com" addresses are by far the most recognizable. When I wanted to register my name as a domain name, "richmatheson.com" was already taken, and there wasn't even a website there! The Web is growing at a frightening rate. While this is indeed a good thing, it also can cause problems for people who are just "waiting for the right time". If you are even thinking of getting a website, register your domain at the very least, and do it soon.

Making a Statement

Like it or not, having a website can be seen as being "trendy". Everyone's doing it, but frankly not everybody does it well. Given the choice between a company with a home-made website, and a company with a website which was created by a professional designer, a web-savvy consumer will likely go with the company that has a professionally designed site. By having a website which looks great, is easy to navigate, and provides a ton of useful information, you are telling your customer that you care about your business and that you want them to know as much about you as possible. It makes a statement, whether they recognize it or not, that your company is serious about its business.

Imagine a page in the yellow pages. On this page there are 50 businesses which all do the same thing; let's say, dentists. Now, let's imagine that only 10 of these dentists have web addresses posted on their ads in the yellow pages. Those 10 dentists will get the most phone calls, because people actually care about whom they choose to do business. Of those 10 lucky dentists, the ones with the best-looking and most informative webpages will likely get the most patients, because they took the time to share all of that information before they even received the phone call. Believe it or not, people do research the companies with whom they do business. If someone wants a car stereo, they often use the Internet to find which one they want, and then they use it again to find a local dealer. For small-to-medium sized businesses, a website is a great way to impress customers who might otherwise go to a large nationwide chain. Sure, big companies have websites, too; but a local company with a great website and a local phone number is often infintely preferable to listening to something like, "If you want home audio, press 1. If you want televisions, press 2. If you want appliances, press 3. If you want car stereo, press 4. Or please remain on the line for a half hour to speak to the next available representative."

Bringing it All Home

A website makes it that much easier for potential customers to find you. People would much rather research companies from home, rather than drive down and pester you with questions. People like to grab a soda from the fridge, kick their shoes off, and surf the Internet with some nice music playing in the background. People also surf the net from work, much to the chagrin of their employers. When someone comes across an awesome website for a local business, they are impressed. If they happen to need something provided by that business, they're impressed and intrigued. The next step is the all-important phone call. Where would you like that phone call to go; to you, or your competitor?

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