Once you’ve made the decision to start a website, when should you begin?
The best way to answer this question: right now! Here’s why.
First, you can’t enjoy the benefits of owning a website until it is actually launched. The benefits may include additional revenue, and also can mean less time invested in customer service problems. One common use of a website is to provide documentation and instructions for using your products on your website.
Second, older domains tend to rank better in Google. This will give you an advantage when people search for what you are offering.
Third, once your site is up and running, you can begin promoting it. Since the effects of such promotion are cumulative, and you or your representatives can only do so much every day, you will want to start on promotion as soon as possible. Some of the promotion you can do include articles, video, press releases, commenting on blogs, and forum marketing.
Fourth, the sooner you get your website up and running, the sooner you can start “catching up” with your competitors.
Fifth, the investment you put into a website today will give you a lead over those competitors who have not seen fit to get online yet.
Sixth, having a website will make prospects and existing customers feel better about doing business with you.
Seventh, a website can fulfill the function of providing the required number of contact points that most prospects require before feeling ready to invest in your products or services. The exact number of contacts varies, but on average a prospect needs to interact with your company in some way seven times before they are ready to make a buying decision. A website can automate much of the pre-sale process.
