LeadMastersUSA

Ok, I ‘m sorry but I just cannot get over this: a recent study showed that 44% of small businesses in the US still do not even have a business website. It totally baffles me, with the economy tanking and margins stretched to the max, why would a small business NOT use the most powerful and economical tool on the planet to get more business?

Here are some of the reasons for not getting online that I hear everyday, (and no I am not always polite in my response)

• I just haven’t gotten around to it
• My customers are not looking for me online
• It doesn’t work in my industry
• I can’t afford it
• I know I should but I don’t have the time
• I have more than enough business I don’t want any more ( ok, this reason I don’t really hear very often)

Seriously folks, it no longer matters who you are or what you sell – your customers are looking online, even if they live next door! Don’t believe me? – check out these sobering stats gleaned from an article by Frank Reed over at Frank Thinking.

82% of consumers turn to the search engines when finding a local business

89% of B2B decision makers search online for products or services before making a buy

This means that the 44%  of businesses without a website are not even in the running for nearly 90% of the people considering a purchase. WOW

They’re shopping round the world

In its most recent global online survey, Nielsen Online projected that about 40% of the world’s population, or 875 million consumers, shopped online last year, up from 10%, or 627 million, in 2006. What is the best excuse you have heard for not getting online?