Saturday, August 11, 2012

10 Common Misconceptions about Small Business Websites

Many business owners get their small business website all wrong because they base their decisions upon commonly held beliefs; beliefs which are pure nonsense?

Cut the crap (paper and scissors)

1. A small business website should be about your business

Incorrect: A website should be about your businessThis is the biggest pile of nonsense of them all. A small business website should primarily be about solving your potential customers? problems, not about your business. Yes of course it needs to talk about your business, but only in a way that is of interest to your potential customers ? and that means them being able to ask the question ?What?s in it for me?? and your website being able to answer that question for them!

2. A good small business website needs flashy graphics

Incorrect: A good small business website needs flashy graphicsIf you want your website to impress your friends, your mum and your ego, go for flashy graphics above everything. But, if you want your small business website to make you money, go for a well-structured website; one which conforms to Google?s latest Webmaster Guidelines and is search engine optimised?from the outset.

3. A?small business?website will not generate new business

Incorrect: A small business website will not generate new businessThis is utter nonsense! I run a small business and around 50% of our new business comes directly from the website you are reading right now. We get new customers directly from search engines like Google all the time. A well-designed small business website can and will generate new enquiries, leads and sales ? period.

4. A?small business?website?will not get you found on Google

Incorrect: A small business website will not get you found on GoogleThis too is completely untrue. Try it for yourself? go to Google and type small business marketing into the search box. At the time of writing this post there are 566,000,000 (that?s five hundred and sixty six million) web pages competing for the term?small business?marketing?and our home page?http://www.small-businessmarketing.co.uk/?is number 1.

5. Google Ad Words are the best way to promote your website

Incorrect: Google Ad Words are the best way to promote your websiteGoogle?Ad Words?are a great way to drive instant traffic to a new website, or a new section, or page on your website. However, as an ongoing, sustainable strategy they are a very poor relation to good, ethical search engine optimisation.

6. A?small business?website?is just an online business card

Incorrect: A?small business?website?is just an online business cardIf your small business website is just an online business card you really need to completely re-think its purpose. It should be so much more than that and any good web designer should be able to help you achieve that. At the very least it should be a method of generating new enquiries, leads and sales.

7. You need a website because your competitors have one

Incorrect: You need a website because your competitors have oneIf the fact that your?competitors have websites is the only reason you have one, you need to talk to a web designer who is more dynamic than the one you are currently using. This demonstrates a clear lack of imagination.

8. Search engine optimisation (SEO) is expensive

Incorrect: Search engine optimisation (SEO) is expensiveThe fact is that search engine optimisation is hugely less expensive than pay-per-click advertising like Google Ad Words over the mid to long term. If your believe differently, you are talking to the wrong people and they are definitely not SEO experts.

9. Getting to the top of Google is a matter of luck

Incorrect: Getting to the top of Google is a matter of luckSeveral years ago I spoke with a small business adviser from a government organisation and he said ?getting to the top of Google is a matter of luck?. He genuinely believed that and many people running small businesses believe it too. My answer to this viewpoint is simple ? see number 4 above!

10. Local directory ads will bring you more business than a website

Incorrect: Local directory ads will bring you more business than a websiteTen years ago, directories like Yellow Pages were where most small businesses needed to be if they wanted to attract new customers. Now that is simply not true?any more. Today, Google has all but replaced Yellow Pages and Google?s organic (natural)?listings?are without a doubt, the place to be for most small businesses wishing to attract new customers.

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Related posts:

  1. How to Avoid Creating Duplicate Websites
  2. Small Business SEO 101: The Basics
  3. Getting Your Small Business Found Online
  4. What is a Top Ten Listing on Google Worth to Your Business?
  5. The Importance of Google+ for Small Business

Source: http://www.small-businessmarketing.co.uk/10-common-misconceptions-small-business-websites/

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