Why do I need a website?

The glib answer to this question, and the one you would expect from us as web designers, is yes.  However it is not strictly true.  If your business or organisation has all the trade it needs or is fully subscribed or known to all the people you want to attract, then perhaps you don't need a website.  You certainly don't need a site that is out of date or wrong because that could actually have a negative impact on an otherwise successful business.

What is undoubtedly true however, is that the vast majority of people now search for things online.  They also rely on the internet to make judgements about businesses they have been told about before they use them.  They almost certainly use a company or organisation's website to get phone numbers, addresses and directions. 

Not to have a website at all tends to give the impression - particularly to younger people - that the business or organisation is old-fashioned. If your target market does not care about such things then that impression does not matter, but in the long term it may be to your disadvantage.

You may feel that your business is small and that you are content for it to have a low profile.  This is your decision of course, but it is worth bearing in mind that one of the big advantages of the Internet is that it levels the playing field.  A small company's website can be every bit as good as that of a large company and no-one can tell how big the company is from the website alone.

Another factor to consider is your advertising and marketing strategy.  Conventional advertising, paper-based mailshots and the like cost a lot of money on an ongoing basis.  A website, in contrast, can be cheap, with most of the cost up front and only a nominal amount to pay each year.

So whilst I do not agree with some industry pundits that a website is absolutely essential for any business, I do believe it will be an asset to most.