Have questions? We have answers! At Surf Your Name we understand that stepping into the world of website design and digital marketing can be overwhelming and come with a lot of questions. Whether you are curious if your business needs a website or how to grow your business online and show up on a search engine results page, we can answer all of your questions. Have more questions? Feel free to give us contact us!
Frequently Asked Questions
The answer to this question could be “yes” or could be “no.” Only you, the business owner can answer it.
Only you can determine if your company needs a website. While making the determination, you want to consider that a website is multi-functional, and is a communication tool — not just an advertisement. If your business is organized, all of your clientele is local, and you have a backlog of customers waiting to be serviced –and you can handle that service effectively — you may not need a website.
If you often wish you could communicate effectively with a broader range of clients/customers, publicly post answers to frequently asked questions, attract new customers, break into new markets, and take the market share from your competitors — then a website is a MUST!
A website is like your giant public bulletin board where people can get information on how to find you, where you are located, what you have to offer, why your service is unique, and what’s new in your company. It’s also a communication forum through which your customers can communicate back to you with questions, concerns, and feedback on their needs.
This depends on your needs. The Surf Your Name team will work with you and identify your needs and how we can provide a solution to those needs. We offer a wide range of services that fulfill the needs of our clients. From website development, website hosting, online marketing, website security & maintenance, the list goes on and on. We also make the entire process quick and painless by creating the best package of services that suits the needs of your business. We take care of your digital presence so you have time to run your business!
We never force our clients into predefined packages that are full of overpriced features that you don’t need or will never use.
You may not sell merchandise online, but do you sell something special that people are looking for? Do you ever have a customer say “I came here because you sell ________.” For example, a store that sells a line of products or brands that are highly sought after by a faithful following, (i.e. Dept. 56, Boyd’s Bears, Hallmark Cards, Red Wing Shoes, certain lines of animal products, clothing and accessories, tools, etc.) is going to have potential customers that search the Internet to find out who sells those brands in their local area. Will you be on the search results? Will your competitor be?
The same applies to restaurants and lodging. People are visiting a certain area. Over 70% of travelers in the United States and Europe use the Internet to set travel itineraries — and those itineraries include restaurants, accommodations, and shopping. Will you be among the choices found when they search the Internet?
In a nutshell, if you offer something that people are looking for, a large portion of people (perhaps a market unknown to you thus far) will search the Internet because it’s fast, it’s easy, it’s global, and it’s private. A website will put you in the running with others on the Internet.
Our team of web developers designs user-friendly websites and can provide training to ensure you are comfortable operating your new website. We offer our Security & Maintenance packages to all of our clients. Security and maintenance packages include website maintenance, text or picture changes, and updates, all with great, one-on-one customer service.
Your current customers may not use the computer much — that is possible.
A worthy concern should be about the potential customers that do use the computer and cannot FIND YOU. Statistics prove that 65% of the population, in rural areas, uses a computer at least once per week, and 85% in urban areas use a computer. These percentages have NEVER decreased. They will likely continue to increase. A website keeps you in sync with this trend.
Another interesting statistic:
The fastest-growing sector of the American population getting computer-literate is between the ages of 50 and 75. This sector also includes those with the highest percentage of disposable income.
A website helps you target that using population.
Another thing to think about …. 75 years ago, the American population felt that the telephone was an expensive luxury and not crucial to business growth. That sentiment continued for 30 years. As social communication trends changed, and expenses decreased — businesses changed to ensure profitability. The use of the Internet will only increase in the years to come.
Is your cousin a qualified web developer? If so, you’re lucky. Be sure to impart a sense of urgency in getting the website completed. If he or she makes websites as a hobby, you’ll want to consider the following:
A website can be compared to a means of transportation. You could ride a bicycle or drive a Mercedes — either way you can get around town, but one is much faster, more efficient, will take you farther faster, and will be a much more comfortable ride.
The flashy graphics and catchy text you see on websites are only about 20% of what goes into developing the site. Behind all those pretty pages are codes and tags, specifically written to attain a higher placement in search engines, making the pages load faster and be more user-friendly. Most beginners lack knowledge in the proper usage of codes and scripts, nor are they up to date on search engine optimization. If you have a pretty website, but no one can find it, you lose an enormous amount of marketing power.
We would be happy to help you with your website redesign! Whether you are looking to have a complete overhaul of new content on your website or simply looking for minor updates, our team would be happy to help. Our web designers can revamp your existing site to better reflect your brand and meet current website standards.
Yes! All of our websites are designed to be responsive and functional on devices of all sizes. From desktops to smartphones, your website will be easily available to your customers.
The answers to the questions and concerns above should expand your knowledge of what a website can do for your company. But consider this in addition to what has already been covered:
Try to understand the mindset and culture of this group of people that uses the Internet to find information:
There are two reasons people search for company information on the web.
They are looking for information on you, who you are, and what you offer. They may have heard about you from a friend, seen your advertisement, billboard, business card, or heard that you carry something they’re looking for. If they know who you are, and they search the Internet to find out more about you — and find no website — they may assume you are not large enough to support a website or aren’t interested in them as customers. (To the web user — no website is like not finding a company listed in the phone book. You have to wonder … why?)
They are looking for a product or service that you offer, if you’re not listed, they will pursue service from some company that is listed.
Yes! At Surf Your Name, we have a team of Digital Marketers who can optimize your website with effective keyword research and content writing to ensure your website is ranking for related keywords.
Aside from SEO, our team offers pay-per-click campaign management (Google Ads), social media management, and email campaign marketing. Our full-service digital marketing team can help you drive traffic and boost conversions. Ready to grow? Give us a call for a free estimate.
