Why?

Why have a website?

Caribou Petraglyph; Jeffers, MN © 2001 White Ash

Thought you couldn't ever afford a website? Think again. The times have changed. There's a new way of thinking. Many people now expect your organization to have a website. A huge benefit is that you no longer need to have massive printing jobs and their associated costs with production and mailing. A website can serve as your online marketing piece. Your costs are up front with a one-time setup fee, minimal costs to update information, and low annual hosting fees.

A website combined with a small print piece, such as a business card, can serve as an effective marketing program for your organization. There are many things you can do online with just sweat equity to promote your site and thus your business, not to mention the most effective marketing tool - connecting with people and building a rapport - through emails and chat rooms, which comes with your monthly service.

Why now?

  • Speed - information, payments, and communications can be relayed virtually instantaneously. Compare that to even overnight services.
  • Low cost of entry - prices for domain registration, website hosting, and accepting credit card payments have come down dramatically.
  • Quickness of Change - minor updates can be posted in mere minutes. Compare that to the reprinting of a brochure or even redesigning a photocopied handout. You can easily keep your public up-to-date on your evolving organization.
  • International Distribution - no national boundaries.
  • Personal Touch - your site design and response to email queries are expected to be personable.
  • Ease of Searching - let their keyboard and mouse do the walking.
  • Interconnectedness - distance becomes superfluous, helping you build rapport with your public.

This list from Paul and Sarah Edwards, the Self Employment Experts - Making Money in Cyberspace ©1998

Why pay for its design?

Do you know how to secure your site's domain and hosting?

Are you familiar with HTML coding?

Are you up and running with a major integrated web design and graphics program package like Macromedia's Dreamweaver and Fireworks?

Do you have a scanner? A digital camera?

Would you trust your plumbing to an untrained person without the proper tools?

 

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