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If you’re starting up a small business or currently have a business that is looking to generate profits in new markets there is no more cost-effective way than to improve your web presence with an affordable stylish and eye-catching website to generate leads and increase sales. What is the best way to go about it?

Graham goes on to say what he describes as a ‘missed potential’

Yet, in the face of all of this, we still come back to the stark reality that so many small businesses fail to explore the web to its full potential.

An online retail presence can greatly increase turnover

Even more surprising in considering this, is the fact that when it comes to our purchasing decisions, research has shown that more than 75% of all businesses use the internet in some way to make a purchase.

We also know that those who do have business websites are in many cases offering little more than online brochures, and so often, are impossible to find unless someone actually types them in by name.

These websites are often horribly out of date and simply out of touch with what the modern consumer is looking for.

Great small business websites are constantly changing and operate as an integral part of a business’s overall strategy. They generate leads, provide measurement tools and in many cases are a crucial part of a small business’s revenue stream.

For the small business owner taking the first steps can be daunting. There are many ‘easy’ tools available on the web that do make it possible to set up your own site and manage it. However, more often than not you’ll end up with a simple brochure site that looks immediately outdated and will anyone see it? Will you be using the latest search engine optimisation methods to get your site to the top of search engine rankings?

First off you need to decide whether you are prepared to invest the time and energy required to learn the new skills involved in effective website building or whether that time and energy would be better spent on your core business.

It reminds me of my brief foray in the used car market. At an auction I managed to pick up a car that needed a little work. I thought that I’d have the time to learn the new skills needed to service, valet and bring the car up to a saleable standard.  It took a great deal of time and buying the tools and products needed to do a good job was expensive. The result was OK, but the ‘OK’ part was reflected in the selling price I received. The next car I learned my lessons. I had it professionally serviced and appointed an expert valet to clean the parts I wouldn’t have even though existed. The result: the showroom-looking vehicle could be sold at a higher price and the time I saved I devoted to working on the business that I know – web design. This also made me realise that I should specialise in what I know best and leave the car market to those with experience in it.

Website’s are no different. Although your initial investment is higher than having a go yourself, if you appoint a professional website marketing company to develop your online presence the results will be far better. It leaves you to focus on what you do best.

Whether you decide to do it yourself or appoint a small business website design company like Webscontent.com, as Graham said at the end of his article:

“Whatever your business, the web must be a part of your strategy. Ignore it at your peril.”