Congratulations! You’re a self-declared start-up owner and you’re considering your first website to let the whole world know that your business has a DOT COM on the web.
The question is: Is your website merely going to be an online business card?
Many start-up companies invest thousands of dollars toward the design, creation and maintenance of what merely is a virtual business card: a “www” portal displaying the essentials of their business like:
- what the business is about
- what products they offer to sell
- what their products cost
- how to contact them to get these products
But what these companies might not fully grasp is the massive potential a website can have to draw eyeballs, generate leads and increase sales.
Story: Andrea and MusicRemembrance.com
I’ve worked on various web projects with clients from different industries including performance artists, veterinarians, eye care professionals, travel agencies and music referral services. Each of these clients have expressed different wants and desires for their website.
But there is ONE in particular who has impressed me most.
Andrea Rowlison, owner of MusicRemembrance.com (an Orlando-based music referral service) has shown herself to be the above-average website owner who has infused so much of her personal energy and time into making her website function more than merely an online business card.
A year ago, Andrea had approached me to design and maintain her website. Initially, all she envisioned for her website was an online presence, a virtual business card of sorts.
But after I had spent some hours consulting her about the potential her website could have in growing her business, the invisible walls that once confined her understanding of what her website could do gradually disappeared.
A year later, Andrea has invested much time in:
- creating a blog with interesting articles on wedding and event music
- leveraging social media marketing like Facebook and Twitter to provide useful content to visitors, grab eyeballs and generate leads
- presenting music samples of her brass group in performance
- creating online forms for clients to complete and submit online, streamlining the event booking process
Andrea’s website has transcended the “virtual business card” and is in the process of becoming a powerful tool for her business. Good for you, Andrea!
Transcending the Online Business Card
It’s important that you include on your website the basic and necessary information you’d like to convey to your visitors, including what your company’s about, what services or products you offer, as well as contact information.
That said, here are some ways you can realize and grow your website’s potential:
- Add a blog to create a two-way conversation with your visitors – and participate in other industry-related blogs
- Add valuable and relevant content to interact with your readers about your business
- Freebies never hurt (free ebook, sample, music clip …)
- Engage your readers via Facebook and Twitter, and other social media services
- Add media (music/videos/photos)
- Upload a video greeting of yourself or with business partners
- Conduct a survey or poll
- Offer product/service reviews
2 Comments
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Alex, you showed me what is possible to do with a web site and helped me (a total computer novice!) step by step in the process. My on-line presence has increased so much and as a direct result so has my business! Thanks for your knowledge and patience. Andrea Rowlison
Andrea, it’s been such a pleasure! If only every business owner were like you, investing appropriate amounts of time and energy into building their online presence through their website!
Congratulations on the journey you’ve made so far. We’ve got lots more to do!