Deeper Shade - web and new media production and development

Why do I need a professional website?

A great website can change the world. Amazon has changed the way we buy goods forever. Ebay has changed the concept of bargain hunting. Friends Reunited has brought thousands of people together, and charities are able to organise campaigns and collect money from across the globe like never before.

The internet is now as much a part of life as television, and yet many companies are still wary of getting online, unsure how difficult or expensive it might be. Using a reputable website consultancy firm such as Deeper Shade will ensure the process is as pain-free as possible.

But why should your company get a website? Mainly because a website is an essential tool for any modern business and a great way to ensure your message reaches the most customers with the least effort.

A website is more than just an online shop-window, it's the only way to reach your customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Almost everyone is online now, and customers expect to be able to find goods and services quickly and easily online. Looking for an advertising agency? A plumber? A good school? A reputable legal firm? 90% of people will first turn to the internet to help them in their search.

If your organisation doesn't have a website, you're cutting off thousands of potential customers, many of whom could repay the cost of the site within a few transactions. Compared to traditional advertising methods, a website is remarkably good value for money. You can reach thousands of customers for very little cost, see detailed information on where they are coming from and how they found your site, something impossible with traditional non-interactive advertising methods. With internet usage and broadband takeup growing rapidly, each day there are new customers coming online with more time to spend there; why shouldn't some of that time be spent visiting your site?

One word of warning. A website should never be an afterthought in the marketing process, or something knocked up on the cheap. It says more about you than any other single element of your business and it's vital to ensure it not only looks great but is incredibly usable, giving customers the easiest method to purchase your services. It takes a lot of care, attention and maintenance to ensure your site lives up to its full potential, but the effort is always worth it.

A good, professional looking and well functioning website says more than a thousand words. A website can convey the brand, the style and the attitude of your organisation, be it formal and professional, casual and friendly, young or old, crazy or sedate. A website customised to the exact needs of your company, not built from a template but from the ground up to your specific needs, will mean your customers instantly understand what your company can offer them.

A website isn't just important for a business, but for anyone with an idea, philosophy or concept to share. Be it a community site for like-minded individuals to discuss ideas or a site for antique experts to search for rare items, the possibilites the internet provides are endless.

A website is a great leveller. Whoever your competitors are, a professionally designed and well-maintained website ensures that in the eyes of the public you are just as relevant and important as the large multi-national corporations or the big guns in your industry.

A website can also be a great recruitment tool. Potential applicants can learn a great deal about your company's culture, values and philosophy before they even attend an interview, ensuring no time is wasted on either side. Advertising jobs on your website is much cheaper than advertising in newspapers, and there are no recruitment consultant fees to pay for any leads you get through the site.

Finally, the most important reason to get your business online is that the internet is an interactive medium. If your customers have comments or complaints they can email you directly, and a website can be a great way to guide them through their problem. If they want to purchase your services at an unsociable hour, a website can fill the gap that a retail store can not. Many organisations like to have forums on their websites to allow customers to discuss products and share their experiences of the company. A good organisation should never be afraid of communication with customers. Customers value it, and will reward the approach with repeated patronage.

Whatever form of website you choose for your organisation, moving your business online is almost certain to be a rewarding experience, both for you, and for your customers.

Please contact us for a web development quote

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