Web site? Check! Now what?
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A lot of small business owners I talk to think of their web site as something analogous to an item on a laundry list. They think that once they have it, their job is done. I suppose in their mind it’s something like this: 
- Formulate business idea
- Rent space
- Hire employees
- Get web site
- Done!
The truth is, your web site does not belong on a checklist!! Your web site is your communication tool with your customer. It should be constantly evolving as technology evolves… as your customer evolves… as your business evolves. It should grow with relevant information. It should be updated often and give your customers a reason to keep coming back.
A web site is not a brochure. Brochures are static. Once you print them, they’re permanent. A web site gives businesses a tremendous opportunity to reach out and connect with prospects and customers in meaningful ways.
What sort of value can you add to your web site? Are there any ways you can improve your web site’s usefulness by adding additional information or building a community of people who have an interest in your products or services?
Need help? Here are a few random ideas to get the thought process going.
- A restaurant could give recipes and cooking tips to help people become better cooks. You might think this would keep people from coming to the restaurant, but it could build value by bringing people in to the restaurant to compare the “professional” version to their home-cooked version, and to get new ideas for improvements.
- A financial planner could write a weekly post with timely information about market trends, things to consider at different stages of life, ways to better manage spending habits, etc.
- A web site development and consulting firm could frequently post new thoughts and ideas about ways to improve internet marketing and internet businesses. (Yes, like this one!)
Put on that thinking cap! I would be happy to brainstorm a few ideas for your business if you need a hand. Let me know. Heck, post your site here and maybe we can get a few more people involved in the process too! 
