Do I need a website? That is the question often asked by business owners.

The answer will usually depend upon the type of product or service offered and what the business is trying to achieve. Some products/services are more suited to the web than others. Plus, a well designed website can be a superb tool for communicating with customers, prospective customers, suppliers and the wider community.

For most businesses, I'd say "Yes you do need a website."

But the Internet does lure businesses with the potential of trading on a larger scale. It is up to individual business operators to decide how important this opportunity is for them. If you are thinking about creating or expanding your website it is suggested you focus on being either a major force in your local/regional area, or gear up for servicing a national or global market.

If you decide to join the growing number of businesses using a website, you must also give thought to the type of website you will use. Apart from the 'look' of the website, content and functionality must be considered.

Your Options

Website options range from a single page (long or short) with contact details, to information websites and brochure-ware layouts that incorporate basic product images and descriptions. At the top end are full scale ecommerce websites that process credit card payments online, track your previous purchases, allow interactivity with the website and other customers, and provide personal login facilities to access data.

However, with all our websites we include a Content Management Systems (CMS) making it easy to make changes quickly and expand as your business grows. No special programming knowledge is required. The website CMS interface is very much like using a word processor. Depending upon your level of skill, you may still need help to create your own graphics or pictures for use on the website.