This is a great info graphic!

Well that's an easy questions to answer. Do you have something to say? Or perhaps some knowledge you think should be shared? Well maybe you're thinking to yourself, not really. But wait until you see the statistics below....  you will change your mind.

Business owners who have a website, and everyone today should, need to add content on a regular basis in order to get good rankings, so why not? Why not make the content original and a blog?

Here are the statistics that will change your mind about blogging:

• Blog frequency impacts customer acquisition. 92% of companies who blogged multiple times a day acquired a customer through their blog. (HubSpot State of Inbound Marketing, 2012)
• 81% of U.S. online consumers trust information and advice from blogs. Tweet this stat | Source: BlogHer
  
• 81% of marketers rated their blog as useful or better. (HubSpot State of Inbound Marketing, 2012)

    •    46% of people read blogs more than once a day. (HubSpot Science of Blogging 2010)
    •    Most people read 5-10 blogs. (HubSpot Science of Blogging, 2010)
    •    Nearly 40% of US companies use blogs for marketing purposes. (eMarketer, August 2010)

• 77% of Internet users read blogs.
• 61% of U.S. online consumers made a purchase based on blog recommendations. Tweet this stat | Source: BlogHer
  

What do these stats tell you? Well they tell you that people research what they are buying and they trust what they read in  blogs. They also tell you that it's important to blog about relevant information about your business to build content. It's that content that drives people to your site.


So, now ask yourself

       "Should I have a website?"  Absolutely!  Everyone with a business, no matter how small or large should invest in a website.  Websites can be simple and small, as long as they are easy to navigate and offer the information your customer's request, your customers and potential customers will visit.
     Websites are an infinite platform to fully explain your products or services. What information you cannot get into a 30 sec radio or t.v. spot, you can easily get on a web page. It is a great way to give the whole story of your business without a time constraint or having to pay for every second you are "up."  Websites have become the standard for business information. This allows your customers to know everything you are willing to share with them about your business. 
     The accessibility of a website mainly means convenience. It is easier to look up a business online than by flipping through thousands of pages to find the right contact information. And then, only getting a phone number. Now they have to call and ask all the questions you could have easily answered on your site.  But information is just one benefit.
    Websites also offer expansion to your existing business. If you are a small retail clothing store, you can also add your products to the site for sale. You can also announce your upcoming sales and fashions before they are actually in your store. There are many ways to gather the information of people visiting your site who have interest, providing you with a list of shoppers who are already interested in your products. You can them send out email blasts promoting your store.
     Many business owners are actual experts in their field or can at least help other people understand their specific field. A blog is a great way to not only beef up your content, but also offer helpful information to others that may be interested in learning more.
     Bloggers usually host advertising on their sites to generate additional income. There are many affiliate programs out there to take advantage of for this purpose. This is a great way to generate income if you have a steady customer base. Otherwise the advertisers are just taking up space. 
     For advertising there are several programs out there to take advantage of but it is best to place advertising of the same interests to your site. That way you are reemphasizing your products or services. All of the major search engines offer advertising programs and some even offer a free start up program of $25 to $75 to sign up. Most of the programs are very easy to manage and start up.

What should I have on my website?
 The information needed in a simple starter website is below:
1. Contact Information
2. Interactive map to your business location
3. Products and Services you offer and any other information associated with them
4. About the business, business owners, employees, etc.
5. Links to organizations or affiliations you may have

The more information the better, as long as it is useful information. Some of the other items that can be added for a more interesting site are rss feeds, slideshows and galleries, you tube videos, flash animations, audio player for music, contact forms, social networking, file uploads, etc. You have many options today for expanding your business. It is up to you to take advantage of them.


Feel free to email me with any questions you may have. [email protected]