"If you build it, they will come."
Not true! Don't expect a carpet cleaning website to bring in a bunch of new customers. Your website must be optimized for the search engines and submitted for indexing just in hope of getting listed. Even still, dont expect a rush of new clients. We've been online for years ( as time passes we do get more and more. )
Use it as a tool and your website can serve you well.
Use it to increase the response / effectiveness of your other advertising campaigns
Advertising space; whether it's a newspaper ad, coupon book, or radio spot, etc., can be expensive. Adding to the burden are the hours spent trying to figure out the perfect set of words to say everything you want within the limited time or space of your ad. A web site is an unlimited number of full-page ads!
By advertising your web site in addition to your services, you give potential customers the opportunity to learn far more about your company than you can ever place in an ad.
When you place a print advertisement it's likely the only people to respond are those who have definite interest in securing your services.
But how many other potential customers might be swayed if they could learn a little more about you, your company, your services, etc.?
Anybody with a business, of any kind, has something to sell online. It may not be obvious, but you have to sell yourself and your business, not just your product or service. Doing it online is one of the most cost-effective and beneficial ways to sell yourself.
Like a fax machine or telephone: a web site is a necessary tool for your business.
