Over and over again, I have heard clients say that they aren’t ready to have a website.  They tell me that they know they need one, but they don’t think that their business is ready to have a website yet.

But you are

When I hear this, I have wondered what the reasons for this type of thinking could be.  I have actually asked some of my clients this question.  While I understand their answers, I want to share with you why I disagree and how my experience can help you to see why it is never too early to have a website.  You are always ready to have a website.

Their Reasons

Reason #1:  All I need is a webpage, not a website

When clients say this, they are misunderstanding the way that the internet, today, works.  A few years ago, someone could have one page of content that was about a mile long.  It would include all of the offers that a client had and the information that they wanted to communicate to their customers.  These were the days of webpages filled with endless content.  Those days are over!

Today, customers do not want to continually scroll to find the information that you have to give them.  They want to tap and touch.  This means that they have to have different pages or at least the allusion of pages to tap on.  They need to feel like your website is complete and functional, like your company.  Remember, that’s what your website represents.

While some people think that an “About” page should be enough, remember that we live in a world where blogs and stores are all online to give the customer a complete experience.  This cannot be done with a webpage.

Reason #2:  I’m not ready for a website

When discussing this objection to having a website with one of my clients, he told me that he wasn’t ready to have a website.  He was out in his community, networking with potential customers and building his customer base, but he felt like his company was not ready to have a website.  When I asked him to explain this to me, he said that he thought he would fail his customers by not being able to fulfill their service requests or purchase orders.

I understood my client and I still do.  I see it a bit differently though.  He is afraid that he will fail his customers, his family, and himself, if he has a website.  However, I believe that it is very important to help anyone that is thinking this way, look through the eyes of faith, instead of fear.  Your company will not succeed if you walk in fear.

We used to live in a world where the business card was all that mattered.  Potential clients wanted to know that your business was legit, so they asked for your business card.  While business cards have not lost their place, something has been added to the card and to the way the potential clients legitimize business.

They ask you for your Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram usernames.  After you tell them what it is and they follow you, right there on the spot, using their iPhones, they ask you something else.

What’s your website?

You find yourself staring at your potential client, trying to figure out how to answer this question without sounding unprofessional and losing a sale.  You wonder what they will think and if it will make all of your hard work and your business illegitimate.

What you don’t realize is that your client sees the look on you face, knows that you don’t have a website, and wonders why.

• Are you not ready to handle business?
• Are you capable of handling their purchase?
•  Are you running from something?
• Are you so new of a business owner, (like, on day one of business type of new), that you don’t have a website?

Honestly, none of these things may be true, but because you don’t have a website, these questions arise.

The website allows you to present your company and yourself, as you want them to be seen, all over the world.  It gives you an opportunity to tell the world your story and to give them an chance to support you.  You can tell them what you are selling and when you are thinking about selling something else.  When you have a website, you have a place where the potential client and current customers are able to connect with you 24/7.

This builds their confidence in you and your company.  If they want to place an order and your process is that it takes weeks for the order to be ready, you can communicate this through your website.  You can also share with them, the great services that you have, give them ways to provide feedback, and offer them options to purchase what you’re selling.

If you’re worried about being sold out, just put a sign on your…yep, your website that says “sold out.”  Tell them that it will be available soon or that you will reach out to them when it is available.

Don’t limit yourself and your business.  You need a website.

Reason # 3:  I don’t want to blog.  I just want to sell.

This has been a common reason why my clients have told me that they don’t want a website.  They have told me that they don’t want to blog because they aren’t writers.  They say that they don’t want to be spending time writing and working on a website when they could be selling and reaching out to potential customers in the community.  They want to spend more time marketing.

First, I want to address the concern of blogging.  If you are a writer and if you are not, please understand, a website is not a blog.  Although you can have this feature added to your website, there is a way to have a website without having a blog.  However, if you have a website and add the blog feature, you don’t have to be a writer in order to use it.

Many website owners and bloggers use the blog feature in order to share updates on what their business is doing.  Some companies take pictures of their activities and post them to their website, kinda like Instagram.  I know you’re wondering, “why do that, when we could just use Instagram?”

I’m glad that you asked.

Instagram is not on your website, with your products, and your information.  It constantly leads them to other places and options.

When a potential client or customer is on your website, they are focused on what you are doing and how you can help them.  Why would you want to push them away?  You could still connect with them on social media, but the longer they are on your website, the more likely they are to want to know more about what you do.  They eventually will end up buying what you’re selling or at least reaching out to you to find out more.

Did you realize how many times I just used the word more?  I hope you did.  With a website you offer more, your clients want more, and you sell more. 

The other objection to this was that my client wanted to be out in the community marketing.  Contrary to popular belief, you no longer have to leave your home or hire a marketer in order to advertise your business.  Marketing doesn’t hurt, but Google does it for you, if you have a blog.

The constant creation of new information, on your blog, drives Google to pick up what you’re putting down.  They end up listing your website on the search pages for whatever your primary business word is.  Then when someone searches for what you sell or do, Google shows them your website.

You don’t have to be on your blog everyday writing.  Neither do you have to call it a blog.  You could actually call it updates and post information on what your company did last week, at an event.  Then next month you could show some pictures of your new products and how excited you are about your releases.  This is todays version of marketing.

You decide how often to publish information, but Google takes care of the traffic.

Why wouldn’t you want to market this way.  I’m not saying that you can’t go out into the community, but this is marketing that can be done, while you sleep.

Reason # 4:  I can’t afford a website

So many of my clients, when they first come to me, are under the impression that they cannot afford to have a website.  They think that it will cost $20,000 and more.  While it could cost this much, it normally doesn’t.

I have had clients that tell me that cost is not an issue.  They ask me for all of the bells and whistles, requesting 6 months to a years worth of website work to be completed.  These are the projects that cost $20,000 and they are not the norm.

Normally a website, with all that you need will cost from $1000-$5000…total.

Wait!  Don’t Stop Reading!!!

You need to understand that you will either pay this price all at one time or over the course of a year for a quality website and your own .com.

The way that it works here at Red Word Host, for example is that you are given multiple options for your website and depending on the size of the project, you are given a price, without any hidden costs.  If you decide that it is too much for you to afford right now and request it, you are offered a payment plan.  

This is done because each company is at a different place.  Some can afford to pay the fees upfront and others cannot.  You should never limit yourself by thinking that you cannot afford something, especially today.

You may not be able to afford a 6 month, bell and whistle website, but it can still be a good one.  I offer my clients website packages that are able to meet their needs and make them proud.  I believe that you should never be ashamed to share your .com with a potential client.  In fact, you should be so proud that you are always ready to tell someone to go and check it out.

Let’s be honest!

There is no reason why you, as a business owner and entrepreneur, should not have a website.  You may have a lot of objections, but when we look at them and measure them according to facts, you must realize that you are simply hindering yourself.  You are choosing not to move forward with your business, in one form or another.

Think about what I’m saying and ask yourself why you really object to having a website.  I normally have these conversations with my clients and once we talk about it, they realize that they can and should have a website…NOW!

If you need more clarity or help processing your thoughts, just reach out to me for a free 20 minute consultation.  I am more than willing to help you sort things out.  You can even send me an email.  I can be reached at info@redwordhost.com

Give this some thought, make no excuses,  and take action!