[caption id=”attachment_97” align=”alignleft” width=”300” caption=”Fabric Land - thanks webpagesthatsuck.com”][/caption]

Amazingly in 2009 there are still websites around that look like the one pictured here, and even more incredible is that they are trying to do business on the internet. Look, I don’t like to pick on people normally, but the example here is posted on webpagesthatsuck.com as one of the worst of 2008 (and yes, there are worse examples).

OK, so you don’t have tens of thousands of dollars to spend on a corporate image package, focus groups, and don’t wish to ‘re-brand’ your company. That’s fine, but there are some basic concepts that should not be ignored in this day and age.

Facebook does not replace your Website

I see this all the time with small businesses.  I’ll give them kudos for at least embracing social media, and it’s definitley not a bad idea, but a Facebook group does not a Business Internet Presence make. It is a great enhancement, but let’s face it, not everybody is on Facebook, and there are limitations. There’s another less obvious problem too; if your Facebook group for your business does not include a website address, the message sent is ‘I’m not serious enough to have a real website’. Sorry.

Domain Names are Important

If your business card has a hotmail or yahoo email address on it, you have a problem. Nothing screams ‘unprofessional’ more, with the possible exception of having your website at piczo.com or another free web hosting service. Domain names are as important as having a phone number in 2009. They cost $20 or less a year.  There is no excuse for any business not to at least have a domain name and use it for your website and email.

Websites don’t have to be complicated, but they should exist

Google has almost completely replaced the yellow pages as the resource people use to find a business. If you’re spending thousands a year on a yellow pages ad, and don’t have a website, consider scaling back that ad and investing in an online presence.  It will be money well spent.

Your website does not need to be a huge complicated affair. If you don’t have the resources and time to invest in running an online ecommerce site, that’s OK. With proper design and coding your business can still be found when people search, and can still get vital decision-making information across. You don’t need thousands of words either, in fact on the web, less is more (except in some blogs).

Presentation is everything

A well designed, clear, simple and informative website will enhance your credibility and the design itself will communicate a message to your potential client. Many times your website is your first contact with potential clients that you’re not even aware of. Ensure they are getting the message you want them to.  A website that communicates cheap, amateur, and poor design from 10 years ago is akin to having a sign you made with spraypaint 10 years ago, now faded and peeling on your storefront. Tear it down and at least put up a simple, clean and clear sign that looks professional, even if it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles.

One last note about Email

For any email address you promote, publish or otherwise give out, ensure that any email you receive is responded to promptly, within 24 hours at the most. Just like answering voicemail, your clients need to know you’re listening, or they won’t bother to do business with you. When you use email, use proper english; that means punctuation, grammar, and spelling. Like it or not, you are judged on your ability to use language properly. If your writing skills are not up to snuff, then either improve them or get someone who knows english to write for you. Believe me, it matters.