The document discusses the importance of having a web presence for small businesses, emphasizing that a website helps establish credibility, reach a global audience, and improve customer confidence. It compares websites and social media, outlining the pros and cons of each, noting that websites offer greater control, credibility, and search engine visibility, while social media allows for easy engagement. Ultimately, it argues that despite the rise of social media, a website remains essential for business success.

1. Why you Still need a
Web Presence
Global Reach for Small Business
Dan Elder, MKMP
dan.elder@milmediagroup.com

2. It’s 2016, who needs Websites?
SMALL BUSINESS GAIN CREDIBILITY WITH A CUSTOMIZED WEB PRESENCE
No matter what type of business you’re in, a website is a great place to showcase your
work. By including a portfolio or image gallery, as well as testimonials about your work,
you can demonstrate what makes your business unique.

3.  Websites Never Sleep
 Your Top Competitor Has A
Website
 Just Google It"
 Websites Improve Customer
Confidence & Corporate
Image
 SBA says Small Businesses
Have Higher Revenue
 Do You Know 247 Million
People?
 Websites Help Establish
More Customers. SBA says
50% more
 Websites Are Not Just Local,
They Are Global.
8 Reasons to Have a
Website

4. I Don’t Need a
Website, I Use
Social Media
Instead!

5. Social Media vs. Websites
Pro
 Quick and free – Social pages are simple to set up and they are
mostly free.
 Low-commitment – If your social profile is no longer doing the
job, you can easily delete your page or switch to another platform.
Or just don’t pay as much attention to it.
 Globally – The number of businesses that redirect their traffic to
their respective Facebook site increases 25% year-over-year.
 Engagement – Social media encourages back and forth
interaction, and tends to be casual and humanizing. This allows
you to easily communicate and build relationships.
 Branding – Customers will learn more about the business’s
values, mission and purpose, through your updates and how you
respond to them. This builds loyalty and your brand.
Con
 Limited design – With social media, you have to follow their
layout. You can customize your header and profile pic, but the basic
layout you won’t be able to change.
 Open forum – Consumers can ask questions and voice their
feedback and complaints. That means you have to monitor the site.
In other words, the public can put comments on your social page or
their profile referring to your profile. You’re not in complete control.
 Limited reporting tools – The level of reporting and features
available are often less than with a website. You only get the
information the social site chooses to give you.
 Lack of ownership – The social media provider’s terms and
conditions control what content and promotions can be presented.
For example, if you want to run a contest, you must follow their
rules. Also consider what happens if the provider shuts the site
down and if this is your only online presence.

6. Websites vs. Social Media
Pro
 Google it – Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Search Engine
Marketing (SEM) opportunity.
 Credibility – Consumers expect companies to have websites today.
They trust a business more if it has a website.
 Full control – When you own your own website, you have many more
choices about how it looks and the features it has.
 Reduced overhead – Most consumers prefer to get a business’s
information online. If you make your website a useful source of self-
service information, it can reduce your operating costs.
 24-hour availability – You can partly “open for business” 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week, anywhere in the world — even if you’re actually
closed.
Con
 Maintenance – Depending on the size of the site, keeping
content up-to-date will require some time and effort.
 Increased complexity – The more sophisticated the design
and functionality, the more money and time it will take to design
and set up.
 More marketing effort – You have to work to get traffic to your
website. That means you have to have a marketing strategy and
implement it.
 Cost – There are a variety of options available, ranging from
free to expensive. Free websites, depending on your budget
and business needs

8. DisclosureWarning

10. Wordpress as your Web Hub