The Web
Why Do You Have A Web Site?
08/07/08 17:09
So…why do you have a web site? I ask this question whenever someone asks me about business web sites. Knowing the purpose of the site is critical for any meaningful conversation regarding it. I am amazed at the number of people that don’t really know why they have one. Usually I get the business person’s version of the beauty pagent answer, “World Peace!” – “improve business.”
I look at a web site much as I would look at hiring an employee/contractor. It should provide some tangible benefit that I can track. Now, I may not track it, but I could if I wanted to. A good example of this might be a single page “business card” site. In other words, just a place where people can search/go to find out how to get in touch with my business.
Once I know why I have a web site, I can determine the amount of resources to devote to it to gain my desired goal. Those resources are for creating the site and for (the often forgotten) maintaining the site. These resources are money and time. People don’t use stale and/or broken webs sites more than once. So if you are not putting effort into your site, then do not expect it to return any meaningful success.
Back to my question…why do you have a web site? Some typical uses would be to reduce customer service costs while improving customer service or reducing sales cycle time by providing much needed information for prospective clients before they call you or to use it as a platform for increasing your professional standing by allowing you to voice your opinion on industry issues. There are a lot of possible uses for a web site and the typical web site builder (desginers and/or programmers) is not the person ask about your core business. You really need to answer that question.
Future entries to this blog will explore more specifics for this topic.
I look at a web site much as I would look at hiring an employee/contractor. It should provide some tangible benefit that I can track. Now, I may not track it, but I could if I wanted to. A good example of this might be a single page “business card” site. In other words, just a place where people can search/go to find out how to get in touch with my business.
Once I know why I have a web site, I can determine the amount of resources to devote to it to gain my desired goal. Those resources are for creating the site and for (the often forgotten) maintaining the site. These resources are money and time. People don’t use stale and/or broken webs sites more than once. So if you are not putting effort into your site, then do not expect it to return any meaningful success.
Back to my question…why do you have a web site? Some typical uses would be to reduce customer service costs while improving customer service or reducing sales cycle time by providing much needed information for prospective clients before they call you or to use it as a platform for increasing your professional standing by allowing you to voice your opinion on industry issues. There are a lot of possible uses for a web site and the typical web site builder (desginers and/or programmers) is not the person ask about your core business. You really need to answer that question.
Future entries to this blog will explore more specifics for this topic.