Many small businesses are a little skeptic about the real need for a web site. They have heard that a website is good investment, but don't know if it can really help them. Answer the following questions:

1. Do you want to increase profit?
2. Do you want to increase brand identity?
3. Do you want a store location open 27/7/365?
4. Do you want to expand your business?

If you answered "Yes" to any of these questions, you are one of the millions of small businesses that need a website.

While there are some small business do not need a website due to specific limitations however, if you did answer yes any of the above questions, you do need a website.

Benefits of a Website:

The benefits of a website are in reality unlimited since the possibilities are impossible. Some of the major benefits of a website are things such as a presence 24/7 that customers can view. At Timous Design, we like to view a website as an employee who can sell and present information all the time to customers. Imagine an employee that has the following characteristics:

• Works 24/7 without holidays.
• Can sell to multiple customers at the same time.
• Can be updated with the newest information instantly.
• Track customers' habits automatically.

Add all the characteristics of your best employee and you have your possible website. Still with all these benefits of good website many small businesses are skeptic about the costs of a professional website and cut costs by creating an economy, template design. These sites limit the potential of your site and decrease your potential profits from your site. Let's look at the cost of an employee:

1. First, we will explain the costs of an minimum wage employee:
1. $5.85 (minimum wage) x 40hrs = $234/ Week
2. $234 x 52 weeks = $12,168/ Year
3. Note that this is the bare minimum for a full time employee.
2. Next we will look at the cost of a web employee (your website):
   1. $1,500/one-time (average cost for a Timous Design site)
   2. $100/year (hosting and domain)
   3. $40/month (web maintenance) x 12 months = $480/ Year
   4. $2,080/ first year + $580/year
   5. Note that this is the average cost for a web site.
3. Now let us compare a five year life of these employees:
   1. $12,168/Year x 5 years = $60,840 (not including raises)
   2. $2,080 + $580/Year x 4 = $4,400
   3. $60,840 (traditional employee) vs. $4,400 (website)

While the cost of a website employee is apparent and the benefits are clear, there are other attributes to consider.

Hard Working

While a web site is less costly than a traditional employee, it is often seen as less effective in selling. Well, that is generally derived from the use of template sites and other cost cutting solutions. These sites do not sell well and loose credibility to visitors. A professionally designed site that is designed around your business allows for better sales, better representation of your business, and better customer relations. A Timous Design site is custom fitted to sell YOUR product and allows you to brand easily. With a professional site, your site will work harder than any traditional employee can.

Interactive

Many times websites are viewed as static and uninteresting. This is a common misconception since new technologies have made the web more interactive than ever. While there are more expensive template sites that have increased interactivity, there is no substitute for professional design. When you have your site designed (especially by Timous Design) professionally, you have the ability to have all the interactivity of the site designed to sell your product and increase your brand identity.

Don't Wait

Don't wait to jump on the website wagon and get a professionally designed site from Timous Design. While you wait, your competition is getting a head start selling and branding. The benefits are sure so there is no reason to get left behind. A professionally designed website is a MUST.