Website, website, website, everyone says you need one. But do you really? It all depends. It depends on your market, business objectives, and even your comfort level and if you are willing to step outside of it.

If your customers live and work within a few miles of your brick and mortar business or home based business, you might not need one.

If you don't have any plans to grow your business, you might not need one.

If you're in denial and choose not to see that change is going to occur with or without you, then you might not need one.

If your community is small enough that you know everyone by their first name or can pass through the town in 30 seconds and you have enough business, then you might not need a website.

If you're comfortable where you are and don't want to change anything, maybe you might not need one.

Fact: Change is inevitable. It is the only certainty, besides death, we all know is going to occur.

Fact: The Internet, as a communication media, is here to stay - at least throughout the next few generations. Yes, it will evolve, just like televisions went from black and white to color, and now to flat screen. Just as dial up went to DSL and now wireless.

Fact: If you aren't spending any money to advertise your business, it's going to cost you to have a website. How much depends on your needs, skills, and other "who"s and "what"s.

There are more pros than cons when it comes to having a website. Below is a quick list of some of those truths. But before I present them, let me mention there are three basics to creating a business presence, whether handing out flyers, posting ads, turning on your neon light, or setting up a website. They are: (1) patience, (2) baby steps, and (3) having a plan even if it only includes the first few steps.

Truth: An Internet business presence allows small businesses to compete with the big guys.

Truth: A website is the most cost-effective way to advertise your services or products.

Truth: Every year there is a huge increase in the number of people fulfilling their needs with information from the Internet.

Truth: The Net is open 24/7, 365 days a year to match

consumer's schedules. Millions of people turn on their computer every day to find thousands of dollars transferred to their bank account from orders placed while they were asleep, at a meeting, or getting a tan in a salon or the Bahamas.

There are hundreds of truths on why and how your business can expand with a presence on the Internet. However, a website boils down to your choice. People can explain the pros and cons until they are blue in the face. You can conjure up tons of excuses, fears, or reasons why not to. The bottom line is, "Are they the truth?" The answer is, "Most likely not."

(c) Copyright 2004, Catherine Franz. All rights reserved.