Do You Really Need a Website?
I know some coaches who swear by their website. Some of them sell products online but most of them at least use their website as a sort-of brochure to market their services.
However, I also know some coaches who don’t bother with a website. I never gave it much thought until I read a blog on the topic recently. The blog prompted me to ask around and find out what the reasoning was to NOT have a website.
The blog here talks about an entrepreneur who gives 5 points for why he is canceling his site. Although he doesn’t give a specific solution, it sounds like he will be using various existing profiles of himself (perhaps through LinkedIn, for example) as his primary contact point.
It certainly is possible and viable to do this. And the number of coaches who don’t have websites proves that you don’t need a website to run a business. As the writer of the above blog post points out, it can cost money that you may not get back, there are other ways to promote your business that are very effective, and it can distract you from your work.
But I don’t think it’s wise. Certainly, you could get business from having profiles elsewhere but people who are looking for you online expect you to have your own site. And, having your own site gives you a lot more capability to control the message about you. Often, your own site (with the right keywords) can appear higher in search engine rankings.
Certainly, having a website does cost money (although it’s not much – a couple hundred dollars a year at the most) and it does take time (although there are ways that you can manage this).
But the writer of the above blog is correct in one aspect: Your website is only good if you maintain it. Between WordPress (or other content management systems) and affordable web maintenance, you can have a compelling website that can work for your business.
Not having a website is simply not an option in today’s business world. It’s an investment that needs to be made in your business… just as you might make an investment into lights and furniture and marketing brochures.
I wasn’t surprised when I saw a sort-of online rebuttal to the above post by someone else at the same blog. In their blog – "Why Professionals Still Need Their Own Websites" – the writer makes some good points and argues in favor of your own online presence.
Having your own website doesn’t have to be a lot of work nor does it have to be expensive, time consuming, or elaborate. But you do need something. Your customers are expecting it.
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