Do you need a website?

Posted 09/20/2009 in: Web communication & marketing • Case studies | 0 Comment | Permalink

“Of course.” You will say. “Everybody needs one. How can people find my business if I do not have a website?”

 Well…I recently found myself in need of a good bicycle mechanic, and search for “bicycle store Rochester ny” on Google. In the first ten results, there were three references to a store close to my home—a store without a website!

• The first reference was from the Google Local results with a link to six comments posted by the shop’s customers—all expressing exceptional service.
• The second reference was from a wiki where Rochester residents can publish information, critiques, and comments about local businesses. This store had about ten highly positive comments from customers.
• The third reference was from a local bicycle group’s blog, in which the author and those who commented his blog’s entry were, again, extremely enthusiastic.

None of these references included a website link—because the store didn’t have one. I was disappointed because at this point I really wanted to know more. But that didn’t stop me from visiting the store, where I had a wonderful chat with the owner, and ordered a drastic overhaul of my bike—which he did exceptionally well and at a very good price.

When I asked why he didn’t have a website, he replied that 1) all the designers he had contacted were always bidding over his limited budget; 2) he would not know how to create one himself; 3) he was aware of all these online references, and they were bringing him more work than he could handle. The only thing he had done to promote his business was to create a listing on SuperPages.com, which Google uses to list the store in its local businesses section.

So…do you need a website?

With the internet becoming more and more a place of social networks, collaboration, and self-publishing, there are other alternatives, such as—

• adding business details on Yahoo! Local and Google Local;
• having a business page on Facebook or other social networking sites;
• publishing a simple blog or online store with one of the many, affordable solutions provided by different online vendors.

Any of them will have strict limitations on what you can do, but it may be enough for what you need.

What do you think? Share your thoughts by posting a comment!