Will Websites Become Obsolete?

[Esk247]

With the price of websites (cheap for a static site) as BDW effectively says, you can offer something on all platforms and ANY business should be aiming to be on ANY platform.

Facebook TICK
Twitter TICK
LinkedIn TICK (even for retailers)
Website TICK
Pinterest TICK

Only one of the above costs you any pennies, the rest are free, so websites won't become obsolete, they'll just adapt as they are already for web/mobile/tablet etc.

 

[maxine]

It's not about money! It's about not wanting it needing one for that particular example! I did only give two examples although I can think of others so I think perhaps it's twisting my words ever so slightly to say that I said all businesses don't need websites.

But that's ok you can still call me foolish if it makes you feel better

 

[Big Pete]

I think it could be only a matter of time when websites will become obsolete .. NOT due to lack of demand, that is going to keep increasing , BUT by virus by these spammers who will eventually kill it..

Hackers and spam is getting worse and cleverer each day soon that deadly virus will go viral and ,that to me is the biggest risk ..
Thats why no matter what people say always retain offline stuff as well as online . because one day you WILL go to go online and find its naffed ..and the facebookers and online company accounts and online banking etc ,will be screwed and with all your eggs online , you may as well just roll over and die And heck there is going to be some panic going on all over the world ..

 

[Apprentice Guru]

She is the opposite to you in that she is not concerned with web leads at all as 95% of hers is all word of mouth recommendation and in that regard facebook does this extremely well for her ... people sharing and liking pics of their pooches etc. She is so busy she regularly turns work away and has a waiting list of around 3 months and can hold premium pricing position for her grooming reputation.

The key difference is that people are aware of her, how well she does what she does, and people know this so if they have a need they do not go searching as they already know how to contact the person they want.

She is adamant that right now she doesn't need a website and I can't argue with her She has all the customers she wants, at the right price, there is only her in the business, and she has no hassle and has a regular flow of recommendations to replace any people who leave the area or whose dogs die. That's about as simple as it gets

You're describing a well established business there. My wife is also a dog groomer with a similar reputation. she's never had the need to advertise on the web, or have a website. Come to think of it, she's never had to really market in any way at all.

My feeling is that as an industry grooming is still relatively young. Her position may change in years to come as others recognise this and the marketplace becomes busier and she needs to differentiate herself. It may never come to this as she has the reputation, but you never know...

 

[maxine]

Absolutely I agree and actually I'm working her on growth in terms of recruiting others so she can take time off and double her income which is why websites come up in discussion. But I used her as a good example of why websites are obsolete for some small businesses

I've been talking about apprentices recently

 

[bdw]

so I think perhaps it's twisting my words ever so slightly to say that I said all businesses don't need websites.

I didn't say that but do not assume that websites are there only to create traffic and generate customers. Granted this is often the case but I think you may have missed my point. Just about all businesses nowadays are expected to have a website through which people can confirm what you can do for them, what services you offer, what prices you charge, where you are located, how you can be contacted and when you are open for business.

Many people who need information about local businesses, which they already know about will still look for their website if they need information. I do this all the time. If you don't have a website and one of your local competitors does then you will probably lose out.

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