Don’t waste your money on a web site

This week there has been a lot of discussion amongst some colleagues regarding everyone should have a web site.  I argue this point as most websites are a waste of time and money.

 

Brochure Sites

A brochure web site normally consist of 4 or 5 pages of broadcast material to inform people who you are and what your about. Majority of these sites are a complete waste of money. Designers have tapped into this market advising their client they need to have good design and SEO (Search Engine Optimised). I do agree to this in principle how ever this is very much a baby step in your online presence.

As these sites are costing about $2000 au it is a complete waste of money.  You just become another web site in the ocean of millions of other who have exactly the same content. Drop In the Ocean.

 

eCommerce Site

eCommerce sites are also a must have for all small business so they can get on the world stage and compete at a international level.  This is good if you have a product that everyone wants and your the only one that has the product otherwise it a complete waste of time and money.  Driving traffic to your site is not something that happens overnight and there is also the art of motivating a visitor to purchase while on the site.  

Affiliate Sites

Affiliate web site who provide links to other suppliers has some merit but of little value unless you have content that attracts people to your site.  Becoming affiliate to other websites requires good planning and spam marketing. Having said that there is value if your can provide value to the site.

 

No longer a broadcast Medium

The internet is not a broadcast medium as traditional media like TV and Radio.  Your web site needs to be an experience for the visitor and allow them to participate in your site. Your site needs to create a two way  conversation and user generated content.  Your web site needs to create relationships with people just as you do in your bricks and mortar business.

 

What do I need to do?

When considering your web site ask yourself what value is the web site to your visitor. Will they use  it and can we both benefit from the use. This takes some good analyses about where does your business fit on the web.

• Why would people come to your site?
• What will they do when on your site?
• Will they bookmark your site for future reference?
• Will they tell other about your site?
• Will they make positive claims about your site?
• Will they come back to your site?
• Will your site make them do business with you

Quality Not Quantity

Visitor to your site are looking for an experience and if they do not get that experience they will keep searching until they get what they are looking for.  Been number 1 on Google does not guarantee to make you money.  100,000 hits a month means nothing unless you getting value from the 100,000 hits.

The quality of your visitor to your site is one that participates in your site and adds value to your site. 100 visitor who do that are more valuable than the 1000 people who visit for 30 seconds.

 

Conclusion

Before you invest in a web designer get some professional consulting done before hand. Have a qualified consultant evaluate your business and make recommendations on how you should approach the internet and web presences.

 

Chris Johnson

Internet consultant.