Picture this... you could hire an employee that would create leads, tell your story and deliver the perfect message to your clients every time. How much is that employee worth to you? Now, on top of all that, that employee will work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with no days off. Now... how much is that employee worth!?!?
I say all of this because as a web designer over the years, if it was a mom and pop website, or one for a billion-dollar company, I always heard the same thing... why does it cost this much? It always made me wonder how that could be as I would routinely see all of the thought and work that went into the website in question. Also knowing what the client was going to get out of it as a 24/7 ambassador for the brand.
So... now that I am off my soapbox it's not the cost that I want you to think about, it is the good 'ol ROI that I want you thinking about. Your website is a relentless brand ambassador. It tells your story the same way every time. It can also execute transactions for you 24 hours a day. It will make money for you while you sleep. You can book classes and events while your clients sit on the couch. So again, it makes me wonder why so many businesses and organizations live with subpar, old websites and site cost and expenses as the reason not to do anything about it. I would argue that these days... can you afford not to have a website that does one or all of these items!
So ask yourself, if you could create the best 24/7 employee, what would that look like? That is how you craft what features your website should have. Want a salesperson? You need a shopping cart. Have classes and seminars? You need bookings and schedules. Need to meet with your clients but can't, you need video conferencing. I can go on and on this way, but this is how you craft what custom suite of tools you need in order to yield the websites (or employee) that you need and deserve!
So what now? Where do you go from here? Figure out what you want out of your website. You don't have to frame it it technology... find a web firm that you trust (like Red Lion Media 😉) and tell them what you want and let them frame up the technology.
Now to reimagine your website can seem daunting, but don't let that intimidate you. A website is a living breathing thing. You can add to it or subtract from it at any time. Don't be afraid to think of it in phases. Put up the new look and a few key elements and then maybe stand up your store, or whatever order works for you. You can proceed at what ever pace works for you.
