Does your business need a website? This is a question that many businesses struggle with, (large and small alike) But, don't be mislead, even if your business is realtively small and offers products or services you don't think can be sold online today: if you have a business, you simply must have a website.

This is your product and your dream, so why are you so quick to "write it off" as not "fit" for online sales?

According to a recent article in Entrepneur Magazine.

"Nowadays, there's very little that can't be sold over the internet. More than 20 million shoppers are now online, purchasing everything from books to computers to cars to real estate to jet airplanes to natural gas to you name it. If you can imagine it, someone will figure out how to sell it online."

Further. Internet marketing research firms predict that the number of online consumers will grow at a rate of 30 to 50 percent over the next few years. 30 to 50 percent growth...Is that enough of an incentive to market on the Internet? It should be!

Now let's be clear, it would not be prudent to put all of your marketing efforts and dollars into selling over the Internet, But some peoducts to fit better into the formula (e.g. electronics, magazines, non-perishable food items) so you should defintely DO YOUR HOMEWORK and know your competition.

The most importan issue at hand - Is that must have a presence on the web so anyone can easily find out more about your business and the products or services you have to offer.

But alas, it's not enough that you just have a website. Make sure it it is professional so that you are taken to be a professional.

Recent studies indicate that in all market segments that "Many consumers now search for information online prior to making a purchase at a brick-and-mortar store, your site may be the first chance you have at making a good impression on a potential buyer. If your site looks like it was designed by a barrel of colorblind monkeys, your chance at making a good first impression will be lost." www.ask.com

The Internet has allowed the "little guy" to compete with the big corporate "warships" and ith a well-designed site you can take back a part of that market or even carve out an entirely new niche.

RULE OF THUMB: It is better to have no website at all than to have one that makes your business look bad.

Your website is one of your businesses' calling cards. Make sure you treat it as such.

I agree with the sentiments in this article. No matter how small your company is, if you are selling products or services, it is essential to have a website to reach your customers.

Websites do not cost too much to build, especially if you use one of the sitebuilders that many hosts offer.