Part I - Do I Still Need a Business Web Site?

As each new trend appears, others take a back seat. Facebook and Twitter have far outdistanced MySpace as the top social networking sites. Entrepreneurs are obligated to keep up with trends and turn each into a marketing tool.

Using social media as a way to connect with customers, small business owners may question the necessity of having a web site. Is the web site concept outdated? Does a business owner still need to spend money having a site developed and updated?

The simple answer is yes. A web site serves a different purpose than social networking. Social networking is great for personal interaction with customers. A web site is the more professional side of a company. A smartly developed web site with informational content is the online version of a brick and mortar store. It enhances the perception of a solid, trustworthy business.

The majority of online businesses are still found through search engines. A business web site with enriched and useful content has a better chance of being highly listed and more easily found in the list of results. A first page search engine listing will increase your exposure.

A web site is a low-cost form of advertising that can reap wide dividends. A simple, informational, and easily navigable web site is an "always on" marketing broadcast, where people learn about your company, products or services, and discover why they should buy from you.

That said, a web site must update regularly or it will lose status with most search engines. In Part II, we'll talk about ways to keep your web site fresh, the search engines happy, and get returning web site visitors.

How NOT To Gain Trust Through Your Web Site

I came across an interesting web design company web site this morning. I won't give the name or url, but this company has a web site that raises all kinds of red flags, were I looking for a web development company. The home page is attractive, albeit not designed for search engine optimization. There is not a lot of information on the home page so I clicked on a link at the bottom of the page that was entitled "CMS Web Design". That page however, is a form, asking for your name and email. In return you get free information about the "secrets" of web site design. OK, not what I wanted to know, so I go back to the home page and click on the "Professional Web Design" link. And, guess what? It takes you to the same form. I go back to the home page and click on all the links at the bottom. They all go to the same form. Whoa! This is a huge problem. This company has given very little information about itself but asks that you provide them with a name and email address? Not to mention the fact that the home page was obviously designed to trick search engines into listing it higher.

The point is, you have to give information to your web site visitors and potential customers that will make you seem real to them. Be honest. Do not "hard sell" or demand contact information. Trust is something that should be built upon from the first.