Actually, the question we need to be asking ourselves when considering whether to have a website or not is "Can I really afford NOT to have a presence on the internet?"  Here are some of the top reasons why a business should have a website.

1. Greater Convenience for your Customers: 
   Think about it, searching for products and services over the Internet is much easier and quicker.  For example, which would you rather do - go to the cupboard, grab the Yellow Pages and page through that or do a quick Google search?  Every time a potential or an existing client wants to find out more about your product/service and business, they can easily do so if they can find you on the internet.  Potential customers want to know more about the businesses they are dealing with before making that first contact.  More and more they are looking to the business’s website for this information.
    
2. Greater Exposure for your Business:
   No other ad medium can provide for your business what the internet provides - global coverage.  With a website you are no longer depending on restricted phone book entries.  The fact is, more and more customers are turning to the Internet first when searching for products, services and businesses.  The bottom line is simple, people will not do business with a company they do not know exists.
       
3. Greater possibilities for promoting your Products / Services:
   As potential customers visit your site, you can tell them so much more through a web site than you could possibly do via any print medium, or TV and Radio.  There are truly no limitations as far as space, time, and cost-savings are concerned.  You can say as much as you want, to as many people as you want.  AND digital media is immediate, delivering answers and your solutions while buyers are still hot.
     
4. Greater Savings:
   A website runs 24/7/365.  What would it cost for you to hire just one sales-person for that amount of time?  AND that one sales postion cannot have a simultaneous, global presence.  What would it cost to run a TV ad or Radio spot NON-STOP promoting your business?  Through a website, your customers will always be able to obtain up-to-date information about your services or products.  Instead of possibly finding you from randomly aired TV or radio commercials, your potential customers can simply browse through your website whenever they like.  The fact is, a website is easier, cheaper and quicker to update than print material.
      
5. Greater Representation:
   A website is available to your customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.  It is your hardest working employee, never getting sick, or taking a holiday.   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. 
     
6. Greater Playing Field:
   The internet levels the playing field.   Whether you have a small or large business, on the internet you can compete on a more level playing field.  A professional website can present a small business with all the flair and impact of larger businesses.  Likewise, well established businesses fall flat on the internet if the website does not match their status. 
     
7. Greater Trust and Credibility:
   A well designed website gives your business credibility and professionalism.  This helps to build a level of trust with your customer which, in turn, increases their confidence in purchasing your product/service.  Similarily, a poorly-designed website will reflect badly on your perceived professionalism. Of course, not having a website at all is a large detriment, especially when being compared with your competition.