Why you do need that web-page!
©Access Referral Network, Inc. www.ForAccess.com Authorized use: This information may be freely copied in its entirety, acknowledging author(s) and without deletions, additions or revision, for personal or educational purposes. Permission to use excerpts must be obtained in writing prior to use.
What Others Are Saying: A business that doesn’t adapt with changing times will lose clients. The internet continues to be a source of referrals from consumers who want to research and compare before selecting services or products. For a time, primary users of the internet included professionals, those strange yet secretly admired ‘geeks’, and younger users who were not frozen by ‘computer fear’ (horror stories of computers crashing and wiping out months or years of data entry). Now even the AARP is encouraging its members to learn to use the internet and offer training classes. From Kindergartens to the very mature, computers and internet have become a mainstream of life. With the economy in its present condition, certain media and marketing methods are taking hits, while internet sites are getting hits! (52 percent of the US online population (82 million consumers) have used the Internet to purchase and to research purchases.
(Jupiter Research)On-Line Traffic Continues to Grow! (Jupiter Research) Consumers are using the internet to find information and also to become aware of resources they may need. ”While no one likes spam, consumers actually like getting product information in their e-mail. In fact, they prefer it to either mail or telephone contact”. (emarketer.com) And now, professionals who have been on the internet for a while are sharing insights as to their experiences on the www.ForAccess.com site, where they have a web-presence without the hassle of maintaining a full-blown web-site: “As a counselor in private practice, my strongest referral source had always been clients and former clients. Following a professional web-site registration, which provided detailed information to consumers and marketing, referrals began to come from a much broader spectrum: consumer, other professionals in my field and outside my field (attorneys, doctors began to call to schedule appointments for themselves), attorneys referring clients, hospitals, new churches, schools & organizations which had never referred to me previously. Another comment from a www.ForAccess.com site member: “Even clients often recommend my site to their friends. If you’re listed on a quality web-site, please don’t think you’ll receive referrals ONLY in the city where you live. Since being on the internet, I’ve received referrals from out of state and now have a growing list of clients who are driving 2-4 hours (passing numerous other attorneys along the way).” Another member: “My initial concept of ‘being on the web’ with a listing where others in my profession were also listed, was so narrow-minded…so one-dimensional. I’d simply never conceptualized the positive impact a well-constructed, marketed site would have on my practice.” And yet another member: “Now people call to schedule an appointment…NOT to ask me questions about hours, what I do, etc. It’s saved me tons of time, and my office staff thinks I’m a hero (& smart!) for registering and saving what had been a great deal of wasted time previously!” A quality web-presence creates credibility in clients.
By providing information, clients are able to make choices they feel are best for their personal situation. By putting information for the public to review, professionals ‘raise the standard’ in their professional development. After all, the public now has access to their professional background information. It’s like having a resume on-line at all times. Both professional and consumer benefit. What A Web-Presence Does that Traditional Marketing Can’t?
By having a web-presence, the public is able to freely have access to your information 24/7! No extra employees handling phones, no overhead expenditures or added office space for storage of supplies, ability for consumers to order materials you sell via a secure credit card even if you’re not in the office, promotional materials (coupons, ebooks, etc.) which you are able to easily revise without reprinting costs or wasted material to throw away, ability for customers to leave you messages or emails, and you can reach more potential customers worldwide than standard advertising (local newspapers, mail-outs, brochures, etc.)Just think! Someone may be searching the internet for your services at 2:00 am in the morning, while you’re sleeping! A Web-Page is a great advertising and informational tool. You may not even need the expense of building your own web-site, but may only need an effective web-page to attract all the traffic you want.Recommended Reading About This Topic:
E-loyalty (attracting and retaining clients)
Don’t Make Me Think (Web-usability that’s effective)
Win Sales & Influence Spiders
Business Podcasting Bible: Wherever My Market is…I am
