How important is a website to a local business?

[doggybizniss]

Just wondering if there are members here that operate a local business, the type of business where most people are local customers, who come to you because you are the best person in the local area, and you are recommended and have a good reputation.

I was wondering for businesses like this how important the website is. Is the website just a brochure, somewhere for people that have already been recommended to you, and may already have decided that they are going to use you to get your contact details etc.

Is it better to spend the marketing money on local adverts, flyers etc, all in the local area.

[Moocha]

Your website is a marketing tool that will be online 24/7 365 days of the year and as google is becoming more focused on local searches I would say sepnd your money on a website. The level of returns for printed media is pretty low.

[jane p]

We have a website thats info only go for it. Its much better than leaflets.

What kind of business is it you may be able to get a grant?

[fisicx]

If you are truly a local business that already has a good client base then a website is not really going to bring in any new business.

But if you are a start-up stuck at the back of an industrial unit then a website can be a good way to tell the world you exist. It's still going to cost your money though as you will be relying on paid advertising for a good while.

[doggybizniss]

My business would be a kennels.

I am expecting that I need to build a local reputation, and have only a small start up budget. I am wondering whether to go basic website, and spend money on flyers and leaflets, I think that my vets may be prepared to help me advertise in their surgery etc. Local pet shops etc etc.

Or spend more on the website and less on the local printed stuff.

[jane p]

you can always tell people you know have a website and they may look.

If you can get it done for free as well why not?

[UKSEOAgency]

it depends on the business if im honest. If your a local chinese chippy or a newsagents, then its pretty pointless expense. However if you are something which is an occassion, like going for a indian meal, putting a dog in kennels then people may well google for local kennels - and a website is key to win that business!

[Monica_ChilliApple]

A website can serve as a 2 in 1 tool for you. It can help you in marketing as well as advertising. Today the use of internet being vast, you can say that a website can help you a lot because of the marketing power of web (I'm sure you're not unaware of it).

Also, I feel that even if you have a local business there are always chances of an addition to your client base. Hope that helps. If you need any more help or information, please feel free to drop me a PM :)

[UKSEOAgency]

I forgot to add to my last post, a website URL with a basic site up, adds a level of professionalism most consumers relate to being stable, now one of the key things - is websites to not have to cost the earth to implement, optimise and receive basic SEO Rankings

if you are targetting a local area, say dog kennel hyde, dog kennel tameside then the budget to get to get an seo to build and optimise the site is going to be minimal, including getting into the search engines.

[jane p]

we have been using our new website to promote our local business this weekend.


We say to people we now have a website and tell our friends that sort of thing. Its very little effort to look.

We also have a banner outside our shop with the name on so passing traffic can see it?

The idea is that they will see it when in the traffic lights queue etc and go home and have a butchers;):D and see what we do.

[UKSEOAgency]

have a butchers;):D and see what we do.

Is it bad joke day :groan: :D:D:D

[jane p]

:eek::D:D:D

[Mister B]

A combination of printed matter and a website.

Personally speaking, if we are ever looking for a local business, we tend to either Google or look in the YP for a local tradesman from which we have a look at their online set up.

Allows the punter to gain a valuable insight into the professionalism of the firm in mind. Also, I would have thought that for kennels, it would be a fantastic vehicle for getting s really strong message across.

Mister B

[Dawg]

Having a website is important, but think small until you can afford more. It is not the only route to market, and print still has a role, as do things like local ads and word of mouth.
You could start with a (virtually free) Wordpress blog site which gives you an instant good looking site with good potential to being found by the search engines. This Handyman (http://www.rochdalehandyman.co.uk/) was on the forum a while ago, and put his site together himself over a month or so, (on a Wordpress blog template), and I believe it is working very well for him.

Nice and simple, and hopefully effective. The KISS principle.

[Nell01]

we are in our first year, local business - 95% of our work has come from the website, thought it would be hard to break into but lots of established businesses don't have websites in our line - architectural services.
I have dogs- would look for recommendations from other owners first, then possibly vets/pet shop.
Flyers- could you ask local pet food delivery business to distribute flyers for you.
target puppy parties/ training classes.
website could pick up new to area families/people search for loads of services on the internet:)
helen

[Maslins]

One good thing about businesses focussing on the local market websitewise is it's far easier to rank well in Google for (in my situation) "accountants tunbridge wells" rather than just "accountants".

Websites are a great way for someone to anonymously find out more info about your business with a view to making a purchase. Sure, they could call you or e-mail you to ask questions, but many people don't like doing that as they worry they may suffer a hard sell from you. A website enables them to gather a bit more info whilst under no pressure, before deciding whether or not to use you. This applies whether local or international.

[jane p]

Websites are a great way for someone to anonymously find out more info about your business with a view to making a purchase. Sure, they could call you or e-mail you to ask questions, but many people don't like doing that as they worry they may suffer a hard sell from you. A website enables them to gather a bit more info whilst under no pressure, before deciding whether or not to use you. This applies whether local or international.[/quote]

i totally agree with this as i said a banner outside a shop saying your website address does a lot of talking without the need for a direct approach.

[doggybizniss]

HI

Thanks for all the comments, i think its a good point that it gives the impression of a more substantial and professional business. And i've had a look at wordpress and I think that could work really well, I could include in the blogroll other pet/dog type websites etc, which would give people more of a reason to visit the website.

I assume that with wordpress I can put all my photos up, most of the sites I looked at were very text base.

I don't think that having an all singing all dancing online booking website is worthwhile at present, but i think that I can use your comments to put together a good website quite cheaply, which should leave some money in the bucket for the local advertising.

Many thanks everyone, I am really starting to enjoy this forum.

[david8765]

I forgot to add to my last post, a website URL with a basic site up, adds a level of professionalism most consumers relate to being stable

Exactly what I was going to say.

I would treat a website as something you will need eventually. If cash is tight leave it off the to do list for now but I would certainly aim to have a basic, professional looking website in your mid - long term goals.

[Dawg]

For the website URL, you can buy the domain name from somewhere like 1&1 for about £6 (2 years on a .co.uk), and then if you use Wordpress.com, (rather than Wordpress.org), you don't have to pay any hosting and you have the option of paying US$10 to have your own URL used as an address. Cheaper than that and still looking ok, and being effective you just can't get.

[movietub]

The benefit of a web presence is it makes it easy for people who have heard about you to quickly find out more. It's not that need a web presence so much as its free so why not take the small benefit?

Ok not totally free but think along the lines of £20 per year to have the site hosted and a copy of front page or dream weaver to build it. Although many hosting companies offer free online website builders which require next to know prior knowledge of 'how things work'.

You will also find that all sorts of obscure directories list your site and basic contact details once you are online. Literally any business can expect the phone to ring a little more often off the back of a well presented website.

The same logic applies outside of websites of course. If you can do anything for no cost to spread the word about your business you owe it to yourself to do it.