There are so many reasons why local businesses need an Internet presence. When looking at how much advertising has migrated to the Internet from newspapers and other “traditional” outlets, you can get a good idea of just how big the advertising shift is from offline to online. If your business is only advertised on paper, or only listed in telephone books, or struggling with the limited exposure and high costs of traditional media …you are clearly missing out on a huge amount of potential customers. With the U.S. economy stressed and advertising on traditional media so expensive, inflexible and simply not doing the job you may feel it should – advertising on the Internet is the ticket many “growing” companies are using to attract and develop new customers.

If you’re customers are searching the Internet for your business in particular, or even for your products, and you have no Internet presence, you will lose the sale…..period! If your company is on the Internet, but not positioned on the Internet in a manner so it is easy for local customers to find you, you will lose the sale.

The Internet is quickly becoming the ‘go-to’ source for shopping for nearly everything! The statistics are staggering according to the Nielsen surveys for 2008. Personally, I go online and read product and company reviews before making purchases. There is nothing better than reading a review on several cameras to find out what people who’ve already purchased those cameras think about them – good or bad.

Here are 10 important reasons why you should consider advertising on the Internet:

1. The Internet is open 24/7, 365 days a year.
• Unlike your company’s office that may only be open from 9-5, Monday thru Friday, your company’s website is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. When you’re out of the office, simple tools like email links will provide potential customers a way to ask questions about your products, knowing that in the morning you’ll respond!
• Time zones should be considered as well. Your business may be in a different time zone than a neighboring city, which is why being on the web makes it time convenient as well.

2. Promote Your Services
• Lawyers, doctors, financial consultants, entertainers, Realtors and all service-oriented businesses should let customers know that they have a choice. Millions of users are referring to the web and are using company’s websites to make major decisions when they need a specialized service. Websites like FinditLocal411 offers a complete set of online tools for all businesses.

3. The Internet is flexible • A web page can be changed at your convenience. Your web page can be updated seamlessly with your product changes.
• Updating your products and new offers will increase your clientele not to mention showing your up-to-date with new products and services. That’s right from Doctors to Lawyers, washers to dryers, to suckers to blowers……yes, all of you’re services can be updated 24/7.

4. Reach New Markets with a Global Audience
• On the Internet, you aren’t that local little business anymore. You have the potential to be seen by millions across the world. Did you ever think your company would have the possibility of doing business around the world?

5. Improved Customer Service
• Providing answers to questions on your website, like sales and information requests can be processed automatically and without delay, whether someone is in the office or not…what a concept!! Online forms can be used to allow customers to request quotations or ask further information. The customer is satisfied with filling out a form=2 0requesting information, but you MUST respond or you will lose credibility.

6. Sell Your Products
• You have the opportunity to sell your products online. This is simple!! You can contract almost any website design house to set-up an ecommerce site.

7. Gather Information and Generate Valuable Leads
• You can gather information about your customers and potential customers by using forms, surveys, and prizes. Rather than going out and getting leads, let them come to you. This is a great tool for prospecting targeted customers looking to use your products and services. A good example would be a travel agent. A travel agent can offer a free trip with an online survey. From the survey the travel agent can get valuable information about potential clients not to mention contact information for emails and direct mail.

8. Provides Instant Gratifications
• People are busy and don’t like to wait for information. Give them what they want, when they want it. If your product is suitable, offer them free samples or trials to download. This includes pictures, brochures, software, videos, Power Point slides, music and more.

9. Show off your Professional Image
• For a small business, a well-designed web site is a great way of instilling confidence and looking bigger than you actually are. In this day in age, customers assume that you already have a website. By now, your primary competitors probably already have a presence on the Internet. If they do, keep up with them and find ways to make yours better.

10. Great Recruiting Tool
• Whether you are looking for talent or posting job opportunities with your company, your website is a great recruiting tool for building your business. You can offer online applications and provide position details like salary, hours, and benefits.

GM Shifts Advertising Funds