1. Cheaper than a shop
Now let’s be real here an actual shop in an actual mall is incredibly expensive and not only that, it has high recurring costs like rent, electricity and other expenses. A website, however, is a once off cost, low maintenance and once it’s on the internet it’s there forever. Average hosting for a website costs about R100. Where else could you rent a shop and display your products or services for such a small amount of money?

2. Competition
Everybody… including you… Googles something sometimes. So just as you Google when you are looking for a product or service that you need, so do your potential customers/clients. Everyone needs a website nowadays – even Doctors, Churches, Lawyers and especially you – the small business owner trying to compete in this hectic, cutthroat economy. I can tell you this, you may not have a website yet, but your competitors most likely do, and they will snatch business away from you faster than you can blink.

3. Information
People are extremely information hungry nowadays and before they do business with a company, they want to know all about you – credibility is key, with so many companies competing for the same customers. A website gives you that credibility. People want to know for example how long you have been in business, what you offer, where you are, and who to speak to about what aspect of your business that they need, sales, accounts, management etc. The website gives them that information, far more so than a print ad in a newspaper.

4. Content
People are also image hungry and a website is a perfect place for you to brag and show off your skill in what you do by posting pictures of your handiwork.

5. Value for money
A website saves you time and money because you don’t need to be continually drafting new ads and spending money on advertising in pamphlets, magazines, and newspapers. Once your website is up it costs a minimal amount to maintain and you can change it at any time, whenever necessary at a nominal cost. Also, much cheaper than redesigning an entire print AD just because a contact number, address or name has changed. You can also keep it fresh by updating with new images of the work you have done.

Conclusion:
It is a fact that a website offers the best return on investment for your money. If you don’t have a website in today’s fast-paced, instant gratification for information, society, you will lose out on customers and sales to people who do.