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Went Hot: November 21, 2007 - 10:04 am
Posted By: Lyndon 274 days ago
Topic Type: News Story (Jump to http://news.bbc.co.uk)
Category: Search Marketing
Even now, I can think of ways my local window cleaner could benefit, although it would not be cost effective for him to hire me.
15 Comments
Comments
Lots of businesses in the UK that are one man bands have a website for tax reasons. A business has to promote themselves as a business I believe to not be looked on as just a tax dodge and the easiest way is spending 100 quid on a single page online made by someone else.
They should actually promote it a little as well, but most don't.
I think so, in today's business world you are almost expected to have one IMO. Even if you are a one man crew, like mentioned it is a great way to expose your services.
Not sure I would pay to have one built, but I guess that varies per person.
The article creates questions and then answers them itself, i.e.
Q: "What's the point in having a website if it's not going to generate any income or leads?"
A: "Because it's a very useful reference point for interested or current clients"
As SEO professionals, we know that in a good number of cases, searches using the company's name will account for a big chunk of the traffic; in other words, the company is already established and clients are simply looking for contact details online etc.
Likewise, small companies of 1 to 3 employees, who have little marketing budget, will generally not be able to generate business online as there isn't the money available to invest in gaining any substantial visibility.
Expections and objectives are key factors for any SMEs looking to move online. However, with national statistics showing that 70% of businesses are online, it does show how important it is to have a website (even if, as Andy says, it's just one page of information for £100 and then minimal hosting and domain reg after that).
Of course its beneficial - so many people use the web as their first point of finding a service nowadays.
@ lyndon: I just checked to see how many times "window cleaner" was searched for in a month, over 100,000 searches in the Uk alone. Where's me bucket and shammie.
@ lyndon: Send him my way. I'll work for food! ;)
Seriously though, I did a whole post about this on my blog the other day. It just seems to me, that here in the UK, not enough businesses are aware of SEO or its benefits. They think a website is all they need and that's it: as in the brochures and cupboard analogy the BBC reporter uses at the end there. Everybody wants a website, but a lot seem to think they're being asked to pay for it again, whenever the SEO 'hoodoo' gets a mention.
I just blogged about this, have you seen how bad the site is that doesn't get a single sale? All Flash and JS.
http://www.blogstorm.co.uk/blog/why-small-businesses-need-a-website/
Can't believe the BBC included this guy.
At the other end of the scale there's the guy who understands the importance of SEO, but does hardly any business because his site, which ranks highly for good search terms, is absolutely awful and converts only a tiny percentage of the traffic it receives - but I digress.
RE Can't believe the BBC included this guy.
Well they had a long radio show last night on gooole and the valley and the main presenter kept saying silicone valley :-)
I belive thats Hollywood dear (obvisly failed the interview for travel totty)
And don't get me started on mr monysavingexpert.com who gets a regular slot on Jeremy paxmans lunch time r2 show to plug his site - how about my latest client who does somthing similar - or maybe his brummie acent would count aginst him
Maybe I'm overly web centric, but if I wanted a window cleaner I'd hit up Google Local. If I'm looking for anything local or small that's where I go because I can get driving directions, phone numbers and maybe if I'm lucky some reviews. I have refused to let a phone book clutter my hall closest for going on 5 years now.
You don't even need a website. You could always go with a Squidoo lens. You would think that a URL like best.taxidermist.ever.com would bring in a little business. Unfortunately they're tough to promote.
I love this question. I have a local website for a service in Los Angeles that appears 1.0 and costs $3 a month to host. The homepage phone number is tracked and it averages 30+ calls per month with many resulting in business to my office. No ppc, no real effort other than general maintainance. Small firms may not need a website, but witht the right strategy it sure can help.
I dont see why anyone business large or small wouldn't want a website. Depending on who you get to develop it it's a far better investment that any other type of marketing.
Are their people out there that think a website isn't a good idea?
what's a phone book?
I want to know how to get the first listing on 1-800-goog-411
I visited a shop the other day only to find another unrelated business now occupies the premises.
A very quick Google search found their five-page website, and on it their new location and contact details. They had the good sense to have one page that announced their change of location. That page still ranks #1 for their business name and their OLD address in Google.
I agree with the fact that everyone needs a website, especially being a big SEO and web geek...and i am soo reliant on the wbe....but I do also understand that some businesses can't support it and it would be too much of a burden for them.
Lots of these one man shows that are new immigrants and stuff that rely on Word of Mouth and referrals and have never even used a computer. Even funnier yet, I have done business with many compuer consultants that don't have websites because they are soo short sighted and single minded of "fixing pc's and computer networking." These types of people would just drive the web business away because, just knowledge wise, they are lost with this stuff and are too short sighted to have someone maintain it.