Should I have an online presence?

What goals do you have? Do you want to attract more customers, give your existing customers better service, or do you have information you would like to share with your organization or other individuals?

If your answer is 'yes' to any of these questions, then an online presence can help you achieve these goals.

People are using the Internet more than ever before. They use it to look up information, make price comparisons, and ask questions on an everyday basis. Being online will allow access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week giving you greater global exposure.

 Can I design my own site?

Yes, and this may be a good option for you. Almost anyone can learn basic HTML coding or how to use an HTML editor.

But there are also several reasons for hiring a web designer who has the necessary experience, skills and tools. The more important ones are:

• To present a professional image to your readers and customers. This includes good navigation, graphic manipulation, and well written content. This may be the first contact they have with your business or organization. How would you like to be represented?
  
  
• Maximizing download times with optimized graphics and good design layout so that potential customers won't get impatient and go to another site.
  
  
• To have a functional site (requiring programming) that people can interact with such as forms, shopping carts, surveys, etc.
  
  
• Proper search engine placement and other marketing capabilities so that your website can stand out from the crowd.
  
  
• Maybe the most important, to save you time and frustration!

Having an online presence has almost become a requirement for any business or organization today. With the public expecting instant information at their fingertips, the Internet is a great choice!