Mistake #3: Avoiding the Web

Every business needs a professional website, especially virtual businesses. Perhaps I am a bit biased since my background is in Web design, but I really feel (and have seen proof) that a Web presence is vital for EVERY business, virtual assistance included. Why? Here are the biggest reasons you need to get your business on the Web:

• Promote Your Business: A website is critical for marketing and promoting your business, both online and off and should be a key part of your marketing plan.
  
• Be Credible: A well-developed website gives your business a certain level of credibility and legitimacy. This is especially true when you offer information about yourself and provide ways for prospective clients to contact you.
  
• Get Found: If you don't have a website you are losing every potential customer who jumps on Google and does a search for the exact service you offer.
  
• Answer Questions: A website tells people what you do, how you do it and who you do it for. In many cases, it's your first opportunity to answer questions of prospective clients and win their business.
  
• Compete with the Big Guys: Find me a successful company that doesn't have a website. I am willing to bet there are very few, if any, out there. If you don't have one, you will find it very hard to compete with the top performers in your industry.
  
• Be Open Around the Clock: Your site is online 24/7, so it's working (whether by selling, providing information, or sharing resources) even when you are not.

Creating an online presence doesn't have to be a complex endeavor and can be very affordable -- if you know what you need and where to go for it. Here are two must-haves, even before you take the step to create a website:

1. A Domain Name: A domain is the Internet address prospective clients will type into their browser to access your website. For example, my business domain is www.avertua.com. Your domain should be your business name or something that represents your business. You can see what's available by going to a registration service, such as Go Daddy or Register.com and typing in the domain you are considering.
   
2. A Business E-mail Address: Even before you have a website up and running, having a domain will allow you to set up a business e-mail account. Free e-mail services are great for personal correspondence, but they undermine your credibility as a professional when used for business purposes. While there are many providers offering free e-mail accounts, I strongly advise against using these accounts for your business. You need a business-only e-mail based on your domain name.

Registering a domain name and setting up a business e-mail account is one of the best actions and most affordable investments you can make for your business, and it will be invaluable. Stay tuned for more information on ways to create a website and, most importantly, how to market it.

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This post is expanded from Chapter 2: The Biggest Mistakes VAs Make in the book, VA Secrets Revealed! An Insider's Guide to Being a Successful Virtual Assistant. Grab a copy and follow along as I blog!

Comments

[Josh]

I couldn't have said it any better. It drives me crazy when people don't want to minimal registration and hosting fees, plus maybe a one-time design fee for a static site that at least says, "this is who I am, this is what I do, and this is how you get in touch with me."

Why would you pay for TV, print or billboards without sinking your first $500 for marketing into a Web site that could be up for a couple of years, depending on what you're looking for? What does a 30-second TV spot go for these days?

[Alyssa Gregory]

Thanks for the feedback, Josh. It's unbelievable to me, too, how many people start businesses and think they don't need to be on the web. Even a one-page site is better than nothing and that costs virtually nothing!

Hopefully, some on-the-fence new business owners will read this and start to see the importance of an online presence. It's worth whatever investment is put in, truly.

[Jeff]

I dunno, I kind of think this web thing is a fad. Once people get sick of it, they'll return to good ol' trifold brochures, mark my words.