Small Businesses Embrace The Web

Posted by Norm on February 20, 2009

It was not all that many years ago that a lot of small businesses wanted a web site because, “everybody else is getting one”. The trend was most prevalent during the early 2000’s when web hosting became common place, costs came down and hordes of so called web designers hit the scene. But now, small businesses are starting to really understand the web and are learning how it can help their business.

Recent data shows that 220 million, 72% of the  population, had access to the internet in the United States in 2008.  This number has grown each year and is expected to reach 240 million by 2013.

The web has become the “new normal” way of life; those who don’t go online constitute an ever-shrinking minority.  Over 95% of adults with household incomes over $50,000 use the web on an average 14 hours a week.

Yes, many of these users are logging into MySpace or Facebook on a daily basis, but more and more indicate they research products and services before making a purchase decision.  They do comparisons between businesses and a large majority say they no longer use the Yellow Pages to find local services.

As most of the retail stores posted lower sales during the 2008 holiday season, online sales increased 12% from a year ago. Consumers have more confidence in ecommerce and they realize it saves gas money, parking hassles and long lines.

As new web trends emerge, it behoves the small business owner to reevaluate their online presence.  Web users expectations are changing.  They don’t want to see a simple online brochure.  They want easy access to product and service information that can help them make a decision.

The successful small business web sites are updated with new information periodically.  When a visitor looks at the bottom of your web site and sees the copyright hasn’t been updated in a few years, they figure the sites information must also be out of date; and they will move on in search of fresh information.

The bottomline is that small businesses need to use their web site wisely and stay current.  I’ll discuss many of the new web marketing techniques here in the “SmallBiz Web Design Guide” during the coming weeks.  Stay tuned!