How websites came about, garnered popularity and have become an indispensable part of modern life
Websites have come a long way since the inception of the Internet, nearly two decades ago. The history of Internet dates back to early 1991 when Tim Berners-Lee, the Englishman, working at CERN, Switzerland, launched the first Web pages that described the very project he worked on – the making and development of the World Wide Web.
It was only in early 1993 that the World Wide Web became free for all to use. Statistics reveal that in early 1994 there were just about 700 websites. In contrast, the 2006-2007 Financial Year recorded over 110 million websites on the Web. With the increasing number of websites, their importance has also registered a high.
Most new businesses are recognizing the potential of the Internet and hosting their very own websites to promote their products and reach out to prospective customers. Over and above “selling” through websites, several institutions and individuals have also been actively using the Web to discuss important issues, provide vital information and express opinions on matters of extensive interest.
An excellent method to enhance presence and visibility, endorsements via the Internet now constitutes a major chunk of the marketing strategy of businesses worldwide, whatever the size of an organization. People, who are probable clients, browse through hundreds of websites searching for information pertaining to their interests. They are looking for products, services, good deals, discounts and so much more! Thus, a comprehensive website that offers relevant information to customers, with a click of a few buttons, is very essential.
A conglomerate cannot afford to not host a wide-ranging website that provides every detail a client is looking for. This is particularly vital at a point in time when the smallest competitors are visible in the market, promoting their products and services online. Therefore the size of an organization has nothing to do with the significance of online presence. If there is a product or service meant for sale, its online presence is indispensable.
On the other hand, a company’s responsibilities do not cease with hosting a site. The content should be well-organized, the design appealing, and it should allow comfortable navigation. A website is a window to the products and services of a company and hence cannot afford to look shoddy. Instead of retaining existing customers’ interest and attracting new ones, a badly organized website will result in client exit and chase away new prospects.
Websites throw a business open to the world, thereby expanding the potential client base manifold. Simply put, a local business is made global with the help of a website.
So, what businesses need websites? Practically put, all do. The scope of online promotion is so vast that if there is a business, there is the opportunity to sell it over the Internet. However, here is a list of business areas that benefit most from hosting their websites on the World Wide Web and invariably reap soaring profits. Appraiser
There are people who are buying homes, and then there are others who are selling them. There are also individuals and institutions needing appraisal services for machinery and technical purposes, business valuation, gems and jewelry and personal property. This automatically calls for appraisal services.
Appraisals can be a rather sensitive issue, and therefore business credibility goes a long way in ensuring wider clientele. A website that speaks of the appraiser’s track record and reliability is a wonderful platform to win new clients. Add to this, testimonials from patrons, and the business is set to grow. Websites are a wise platform to invest in because every well-to-do business that follows the principles of professionalism owns one. Pick up tips from biggies like PricewaterhouseCoopers (www.pwc.com), Ernst & Young (www.ey.com) and Burnham Financial Group (www.burnhamfinancial.com).
Attorney
The number of people searching the Internet for an attorney is increasing everyday; so is the number of attorneys who own a website. A website is especially useful for an attorney as he/she can’t use conventional advertising methods. It can be a legible and accepted way of showcasing an attorney’s areas of specialization and other advantages the client can expect.
A website can effectively be used to publish articles and case studies. There is no better way to display the awards and accolades one has received than by placing them online. It is the easiest and the most effective way to demonstrate an attorney’s credentials. Ad Specialties
Uniqueness of concepts and innovative ideas are the most obvious characteristics of any ad specialty. A website is the easiest way to promote such ideas and, in effect, the business. It is easily more effective than a brochure and, at times, even better than a demonstration.
Websites allow you to give exhaustive lists of the promotional products. You can also allow the customer to choose from the list and even place an online order. Auto Repair
Millions of people translate into millions of cars, and this automatically leads to an increasing number of auto repair companies However, the biggest fear of car owners is how many of these companies are authentic. It goes without saying that auto repair companies have to build trustworthiness among potential clients so as to increase enquiries. What better way to do that than to build an all-encompassing website.
Take a look at the website of Mitchell 1 (www.mitchell1.com). A leading company in its field, it hosts a website, which although it looks ordinary, offers comprehensive information that dozens of car owners are looking for. Several other smaller, yet visionary auto repair companies have recognized the cutting edge a website offers them. Explore websites of Clintonville Auto (www.clintonvilleauto.com), Eastwood Company or Car Repair Company; while their services are rather local, these companies have understood the importance of hosting a website.
Banking
Most banks nowadays are looking to convert their customers to internet banking users. Internet banking is several times more cost-effective than running a large scale bank where transactions are handled by full-time executives. As opposed to face-to-face transactions, web banking offers the freedom to interact with the client without assigning individual executives.
A maximization of online banking will help banks cut down resources that are currently required to operate a full-fledged financial institution. Primarily, a financial institution’s website would need corporate information- history, responsibilities, news and reports etc, to built credibility among customers and investors, alike. The website should highlight various services available to a potential client, such as loans, investments, plans, transactions, cards etc. For existing clients, the site should elucidate on the transactions that can be safely conducted online, without the need to discuss one-on-one with a bank official.
Business Broker
For Business Brokers, having a website ensures more reach to customers and, in turn, more business. A business broker’s website needs to be as simple and focused as possible. Besides detailed information about the services offered and general advice for the customers, the facility to submit enquiries is also required.
Nowadays business brokers use their sites to generate automated enquiries. A comprehensive FAQ also is indispensable. Business Coach
This sector uses the prospects of the Internet more than many others. Nowadays, a website is indispensable for a business coaching provider. Blogs, forums, podcasts etc- numerous tools are there that business coaches can make use of by hosting a website.
On a business coach’s website, detailed descriptions about the programs should be made available to the customers for their reference. Moreover, a site can provide detailed info about the resources as well.
Dentist
Many dentists may argue about the need for a website, especially since dentistry caters mainly to the regional market; the need for reaching out to areas outside a dentist’s scope would be minimal. However, people in the current age turn to the Internet in search for services in their locality, and find a company that has a web presence easier than going by word of mouth. A website is highly essential for a dentist who wishes to inform his potential clients about his services. A website, in that sense, is a point of contact between the dentist and his patients. A combination of the right emotions and professional approach on the website will encourage prospective clients to seek out the dentist every time there is a need.
Financial Planning
Financial Planning organizations can use a website in multiple ways; to advertise services, to counsel customers, and to sell products. A website can be helpful in providing after-sale service as well. For this, the facility to create customer accounts is required. By accessing this account, the customer should be able to get all the information about the services he/she is wanting from the organization.
A financial planner’s website should provide comprehensive and authentic information about the services it offers and the resources it has. A neat and orderly appearance also is essential. Handyman
Nowadays, most of the major handyman services own websites. These sites play a functional part in helping the customer locate a service offered, or determine the availability of it at a particular location. Obviously, with detailed descriptions about the company and services neatly displayed, these sites can act as interactive posters of the organization. Besides other contact details, the site should have the ability to request a service online.
Insurance
Today’s insurance companies offer diversified services that require regular interaction with the customers and a well-maintained website is the most feasible way to do this. Giving guidance is very important for an insurance company to do business. A website can easily be the best tool to explain the benefits of every product. Moreover, you can allow the customers to login into their accounts to get specific information about their investment.
The website of an insurance company requires regular updating. It should be as comprehensive as possible, with minimum graphics and a professional look. This type of website should include functionality for customers to create accounts. Interior Design
Beautiful homes and interiors are no longer a compromise the modern generation is willing to settle for. Comfortable and classy is the new mantra. In a creative industry such as Interior Designing how does one hope to garner customer attention? Interior designing, being a visually appealing service providing field, can use the Internet as a powerful tool to lure clients. A website should showcase a company’s portfolio as well as highlight the various categories and themes the interior designers can do. Website marketing is highly imperative for such a competitive industry where there are just a handful of customers. Follow examples of biggies like Robb & Stucky (www.robbstucky.com), Tamara Tennant (www.tamaratennant.com) and others to know exactly what an interior designing company’s website should look like. Internet Access
An Internet Access Service Provider is one who can sell products and provide service right through the company website. Quite predictably, these firms do a lot of business this way. For this, an online signup facility is required. This will not only help create an account but also provide after sale services. The customer can access the website and, using the account, avail himself of the services.
Additionally, the website can act as a brochure with specific details and plan comparisons, and as an advertisement tool with information about the company. Maintenance/Janitorial
In the case of a maintenance/janitorial firm, the most important role a website can play is providing information to the customers about the organization and the services offered. It is more effective and convincing than any advertisement or announcement.
While trying to avail themselves of maintenance/janitorial services, customers tend to have a lot of queries and always look for the track record of the service provider. A website offers solution to both. You can display client feedback on the site and give a detailed FAQ section as well. Detailed contact information and facility to check if the services are available at a particular location are also essential. Painters and Decorators
Every service-based business today hopes to attract the young urban professional, because the yuppie of today loves to live like a king, and has no qualms of spending big money on his home. In such a case, painters and decorators need to look beyond being listed in the local directory. Also, the maximum an online directory can offer is to put up an advertisement followed by a route map. If the idea is to grab the customer’s attention and to sell the services to him, a website is the answer. Websites of house painting companies such as Hollywood Painting (www.hollywoodpainting.com) and CertaPro Painters (www.certapro.com) are fine examples of what a painting and decorating company’s website should look like and offer. Tips on how to choose paints, do makeovers, estimators that help gauge requirements, and details on other services like staining, spraying, etc ensure that the customer can naturally come to trust the seller. A well-designed website with relevant content can go a long way in ensuring frequent and repeated inquiries. Party Planner
Fast lives and less time for personal activities has led to people realize the importance of occasionally getting together for parties. However, organizing one on their own calls for time and patience, which most people these days don’t have, so they turn to party planners. That is the most important reason why a party planner needs to own space on the Web. A party planner’s website should include loads of information on how to plan and host a party, apart from of course offering services to organize parties for people. A colorful, comprehensive website that also includes pictures of parties successfully given and customer testimonials, and of course, contact address, will help a party planning business literally go places. This is because a website will throw open the business to beyond the immediate locality, which is the current need of every upcoming organization. Photographer
From a wedding photographer to a nature photographer, a model photographer to a portrait photographer, this is one career that is going places! So how does a photographer ensure that he turns a hobby into a remunerative career option? Of course, there is no substitute for good work and word of mouth promotion, but if reaching out to a large clientele is what a photographer is looking for, then a website will do the job perfectly. A website can be used as an online portfolio that can not just act as a showcase of work history and experience but also highlight a photographer’s specialized area of work. Contact information on the website will ensure that a photographer gets the right number of enquiries. Physician
It is quite natural if a physician asks why he needs a website when he is actually catering to regional health needs. However, we are living in the modern era where web presence has a lot to do with credibility. A website should describe the physician’s career history and field of specialty, in addition to providing a portal to interact with patients. While health care requires direct contact with clients in most cases, a website will help a physician organize appointments, and provide on-the-spot solutions to queries. This advantage is over and above the benefits of reaching out to several other potential clients in a specific area who had been out of a physician’s purview until now. Plumbers
Plumbing might seem like an unlikely industry that is in need of web presence. However, more and more people are turning away from Yellow Pages and banking more on the Internet to dig out information, even for local services like plumbing. Increased competition among plumbing companies and plumbers would mean enhancing availability of services by hosting websites that apart from providing details on services also offer contact information. This will automatically lead to more inbound calls from customers. Web presence is associated with a kind of sophistication that will find more credibility with the new generation.
Take for example, Roto-Rooter (www.rotorooter.com). This plumbing and drain cleaning service provider in North America has a full-fledged website that lists residential and commercial services plus offers special coupons and everyday info on plumbing! No doubt, even service-based local services are going that extra mile to lure clients. Printing
Like any other industry, the printing companies also are using the Internet as its communication and production tool. A significant number of them provide file transferring services via the World Wide Web. Quite surprisingly, many of the printing-related companies don’t have websites and several use their sites as company advertisement, rather than for actual business processes. Websites help printing companies reach a wider market; effectively give information about the services; and facilitate the automation of a significant portion of the job, which can be critical in reducing operation expenditure. Printing websites should include facility to upload designs or photos by the customer, shipping information, and facility to pay online, as well as provide general contact information.
Real Estate
The primary and the most obvious benefit of hosting website for a real estate business is the amazing reach facilitated by the pervasive presence of the Internet. A website does away with the need for offices or affiliates in every nook and corner. There is also the added advantage of savings made automatically from web presence. Easier access means more customers. Nowadays people prefer Internet deals rather than taking the trouble of finding an office on an unfamiliar lane. Websites facilitate open communication. This is very important for the realty industry, where exchange of information plays a vital role. The customer can send inquiries and requests for information and the firm can respond efficiently. A well-designed website with an intuitive search tool, calculator and maps of the regions in which you do business are the prime requirements. Restaurant
The restaurant business is a great beneficiary of web presence. Thousands of people looking for restaurants serving good food are also searching for an ambiance that complements the gastronomy. Lovely food served in drab, unkempt surroundings is not just putting off, but will chase away, clients. Therefore, if a restaurant boasts of a combination of sumptuous meals and feel good ambiance, it should use the Internet to promote its services. Do up a website with attractive photographs of food, laid out within charming interiors; post testimonials of patrons who have loved the fare at the restaurant; get reviews from the media reprinted on the site; use customers’ contact information to inform them of ‘specials’; put the menu on display; advertise new and exciting offerings, services and themes, if any; and finally don’t forget to add a map that shows the location of the restaurant. People are sure to look for restaurants on the Web. So it’s a great idea to be there!
Retail Stores
Retail stores, in spite of their size, will find websites a great promotional tool. Websites, can in fact, act as a platform for advertising special offers and new products, apart from serving as an online promotional brochure for the business. No doubt, an online information sheet of such a kind will save thousands of dollars by doing away with printing and mailing. The website will also facilitate easier and faster customer service, averting customer frustration, which usually is the result of slow contact systems such as phone calls and one-on-one interactions. Travel and Tourism
The travel industry has been increasing depending on the Internet to reach out to millions of travelers, living in a myriad of countries across the globe. This is because booking airline tickets, making hotel reservations, organizing car rentals and gaining a perception on tourism possibilities of destinations far and wide from the comfort of a home or workplace, has become essential for the any individual. The need for a physical presence to fulfill service requests has become obsolete in the travel industry. This has prompted companies to create easily navigable, information providing websites or update already existing ones to meet client requirements. Travel and tourism companies across the globe should host their very own websites so that customers can easily find what they are looking for, in the easiest and quickest possible way. A complete booking menu with a comprehensive search panel and direct link to the database; facility to pay online for the services offered; catchy and informative descriptions of destinations; and ability to effortlessly select hotels and modes of transportation are prime necessities of a website.
Veterinarian
A veterinarian’s practice becomes all the more reliable when communication with clients is facilitated through a website, apart from one-on-one interactions. Since nowadays more and more clients are turning to the Internet for information, Veterinary is not left unaffected by the change in the information-seeking approach. A veterinarian’s website can help clients easily reach out for information for which they would otherwise have to visit an animal hospital. A website will also help veterinarians save hours that fall in the non-billable category since minor inquiries can be easily answered on the website. On the whole, a website will automatically enhance a veterinarian’s relationship with clients.
Window Cleaning
The window cleaning business has been considered “commonplace” for too long. The business is lucrative, no doubt, what with the increasing number of buildings being built almost everywhere! But the competition is equally nerve-racking, and therefore hosting a website with detailed, customer-friendly information on window cleaning will go a long way in elevating a company’s reputation among potential clients. High-end customers are sure to research on the Internet for dependable and credible organizations that offer window cleaning services. If a business wishes to capture this well-paying stratum, a website becomes indispensable! Work on a website that portrays the business as professional, reliable and competent. This would not just offer an advantage over competitors but also make the business “visible” beyond the expected. Fish Window Cleaning and Window Gang are some companies that have hosted simple, yet all-embracing websites to promote their services.
Writers
If you are writer and wish to spread your written word to the world, turn to Internet. What better way to reach out to readers worldwide than being your very own publisher? The best thing about a writer hosting his very own website is the freedom and flexibility he achieves. The complete editorial and artistic control remains in the hands of the writer; and so does the commercial advantage. A writer does not have to wait for months, and sometimes years on end to get his book published. A wonderful platform to carry out self-branding, a website offers the ideal opportunity to post work, right after review. A great advantage is that changes can be made to the published work any time; so without any query letters, rejections and rewrites, a writer’s work can be available for the world to read at all occasions! He can also promote already published books and even sell his work through affiliate programs with top players like Amazon (www.amazon.com) and Barnes & Noble (www.barnesandnoble.com).
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