Why a Business Needs a Website

 In this day and age it seems impossible that anyone would have a business without a website.  Yet, there are some businesses that do not have a website to represent their business online.  Why is a website so important to any business these days?  I believe a website is important to a company’s image and as a source of outreach to their clientele.  I know I look first for a website when I have an interest in a company.  I often judge them on their online presence.

            According to an article Nicole Leinbach-Reyhle wrote, people will search Google, Yelp or Facebook before they will visit you in person (Leinbach-Reyhle, 2014).  This is significant.  I know if someone tells me about a company, I check first to see if they have a website.  A website gives me information about what the company has to offer.  If I’m interested in purchasing from the company, then I will check out reviews about the company.  I live in the Atlanta, Georgia area and there are lots of restaurants.  Before I visit a restaurant, I will look at their website and read reviews about it.  There have been occasions when I have not eaten at a restaurant because I could not find them online.

            A website gives a company a way to market their product.  An article written on GoDaddy states that a website will be an anchor for marketing, a way to sell online, help connect with new customers, as well as they are affordable (Perilli, 2015).  I know that I do not want to launch my business until I have created a viable website that shows I’m serious about my product and my company.  “Whether you are a one man or woman show or operate with 100 employees, your website should appear as if you have a team dedicated exclusively to keeping your online presence strong and noteworthy (Leinbach-Reyhle, 2014)”.  This statement shows that a website will give you credibility in the fast-paced world of today’s businesses.

            I use a company’s website to learn about the company – their vision, their backstory, their passion.  I also look at their products/services to determine if they are what I am looking for.  I am also interested in how they interact with their clients – whether it is through tutorials, customer service, or blog posts.  If they are interacting with their client base, I feel more confident in doing business with them.  It is as Ms. Leinbach-Reyhle stated, “Window shopping isn’t what it use to be (Leinbach-Reyhle, 2014).”  I window shop by visiting online first. 

            “An effective website is the cornerstone of your company – it houses important information, and your customers expect you to have one (Perilli, 2015).”  This is a true.  If one is serious about being in business these days, one must have a functioning, informative website.  One that will market to their clientele.  Thus, not every website will be the same as each target market is different.  A company’s website today is as important today as a business having a well laid out showroom in the past.

References

Leinbach-Reyhle, Nicole (2014 September 24) 3 Reasons Websites Are Vital for Small Businesses,www.forbes.com

Perilli, Raubi Marie (2015 October 2) 7 Reasons You Need a Small Business Website, www.godaddy.com

NOTE:  This post is for my SMM140 class, thus it is written in APA.  I like it.  I think it gives credibility to my writing.  

How to begin a business

I'm determined to start a business this year.  I have lots of ideas which have been floating around in my head but I haven't brought them to fruition.  Well, this will be the year.

So how does one start a business?  I don't know.  That's what I'm going to learn this semester through my classes.  I'm currently taking B283 (Small Business Creation) and three Social Media Marketing classes (SMM105 - Intro to SMM, SMM130 - Social Media Content, and SMM140 - Web Design).  I have also enlisted the services of a SCORE mentor.

What will I be doing?  I have extensive training in clothing construction.  I have been doing research on convertible clothing and sarongs and sarong siblings for the past 10 years.  I'm developing a clothing line sorta and hope to write at least two books.  I know that sounds wishy-washy.  The business plan is in the works to help me identify my focus and schedule.

Me with lots of sarongs and saris

If you haven't had the opportunity to visit BYU-I Online www.byui.edu/ course offering, I suggest you give them a try.  The tuition is reasonable.  The courses are challenging.  The instructors great.  I'm in my second semester of entrepreneurial classes and my first semester of social media marketing.  The entrepreneurial classes have helped me establish that I want to have a business and have given me comfort to know that I can do this.  The social media marketing classes are kicking my butt!  I like technology, but  I don't know much about it.  I have successful pattered with HTML and CSS which is a major breakthrough for me. 

So, how are these classes of worth?  The B283 class requires $100 challenge.  Through this challenge we are required to set up a micro business with $20 capital and earn at least $100 to which we will then donate the proceeds to www.kiva.org, an organization that gives loans to entrepreneurs.  Through this process we will learn how to create a business plan, execute it and market.  This will give me the experience I need to start my own business plan.  

The social media marketing classes teach me how create authentic content, create good content, and use the various social media platforms.  I'm learning the rules of etiquette for each social media platform.  I'm learning about hashtags.  I'm learning about apps that enhance the content to make them better.  I know that social media marketing is the way of the future and I want to use it to its fullest extent.

So how do I begin a business?  I begin by gathering the tools I need to succeed.  I identified that I needed business acumen to begin the task properly.  Thus, I 'm taking entrepreneurial classes as well as requested a SCORE mentor.   What I have learned so far is that it is difficult to be an entrepreneur.  I also learned, I'd rather have tried to be an entrepreneur than to let my ideas and knowledge go with me in the grave.

I identified that for a micro business (I want my business really small) the best way to market is through social media.  The rectangular sisters and their cohorts are going to be promoted through educational posts. Learning how to use a piece of cloth in multiple ways will take some education.  Learning about social media will help me to do this effectively and creatively.  I'm only in my fourth week of classes and I've gained a huge appreciation for photographers and videographers.   To bring off a quality product requires blood, sweat and tears - and lots of patience.  I'm also learning how to create a website which will be my storefront.  Just as one would have to build and decorate a storefront, one has to do this for a website.  I do realize that most business owners do not

build or remodel their own storefronts, but some do.  They want the layout to be just so and I want the same for my storefront.

So when will all of this happen?  My goal is as I do my schoolwork I will concurrently use the tools I'm learning to develop my business.  I'm sure there will be a few weeks lag time, but look for the opening of my store in April 2018.

And as a final note, I enlisted my friends to help with beginning my business.  The first step was to ask for help on the business name.  They are brainstorming geniuses. 

Support and encouragement are essential to beginning a business. 

What do you need to start a business?  What tools or skills do you need to acquire to bring your ideas to fruition?

Last lecture? Really?!!

We have a joke in my family about lectures.  I’m notorious for giving my children lectures.  Sometimes they listen and sometimes they don’t.  That is human nature.

If I was to give my last lecture based on what I have learned this semester in my entrepreneurship class, the first piece of advice I would offer would be, take this class.  I don’t think I learned anything earth shattering in this class, but I did learn to evaluate my life, my values, my dreams, myself in a systematic way which has caused me to understand myself better.  There have been moments of doubt whether I’m cut out to be an entrepreneur, but then I realized that our entire life is about being an entrepreneur – making something better out of our lives than what we started with.  One may not start a business to be an entrepreneur, but one can make an impact on the world.  The principles learned in this class will help each one of us make a positive impact on the world.

Another piece of advice I’d offer based on taking this class is carefully choose your partners in life.  This includes your eternal companion, your work companions, your play companions, your business partner.  One person in your life could possibly wear all those hats, but you may have a plethora of people to fulfill these roles in your life.  As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (or any Christian organization for that matter) we are taught to help others, not shun others, not put others down.  So how is this to be accomplished if we surround ourselves only with the best?  As in the instructions given on the airplane prior to take off, one is told to put one’s oxygen mask on first and then help others.  We each need to have our “oxygen mask” on first before we can go out and help others.  This means make sure our personal foundation is sure, we have a great support structure of companions and then we can go out to help others.  Just because we go into a place to help others, does not mean we need to take on their negative life choices.  Through our personal foundation and those we choose to surround ourselves with who reinforce our personal foundation, we can then go in with our oxygen mask and lift up the weary and downtrodden.

  

One last piece of advice I would give is ask questions.  This is not the same as questioning something.  I believe President Dieter F. Uchtdorf says it best, “Doubt your doubts, before you doubt your faith.”  I have faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ and those He has appointed to lead the Church.  I have faith in chosen mentors and principles.  I may not understand everything a mentor shares or a principle taught, but I know the foundation is sure.  I keep asking questions until I understand.  My journey of understanding may give me a different perspective to the truth than those who taught me.  Then I will have added to the conversation that makes each principle stand the test of time.

This will probably not be my last lecture, but it is my last lecture for this class at this time.  I’m sure as I review and use the principles I have learned I will have other conversations about them. 

Winding down and winding up

The semester is winding down.  I’m glad.  I don’t like going to school.  At the halfway mark, I was wondering what I was doing.  But I plowed on and have almost completed this semester.  I thoroughly enjoyed my classes.  I have learned so much.  I’m actually surprised that many of questions about being an entrepreneur have been answered.  This has never happened before in my life.  That is one reason I gave up on my education several decades ago.  My questions weren’t being answered.  I know I probably should regret not finishing my degree decades ago, but I don’t.  My education was to be completed at this time.  I was looking for the educational model that fit me and I have found it through BYU-Idaho online. 

What I have learned this semester will not fit in a single blogpost, but what I learned of value this week for me what that I can close an experience and not feel like I failed.  I have a product idea.  I have a product launch idea.  I have a vague business plan.  And now, I feel I can go forward.  I only ask that I get back the money I venture on the product and I’m pretty sure I can do that.  While I do this process to get a product launched, I now know I can learn a lot and use it to launch my next big idea.  But, the product and myself may surprise me and we will not only launch but may have longevity.  Then, I will have another set of challenges to overcome.  Either way, I’m excited to give it a try.  There are stones in the path and dragons to overcome and despair to face, but with my newfound knowledge, I feel I can become the hero I’m meant to be.

The future of business?

This week for my entrepreneurship class, I read an article written by Charles Handy, “What’s a Business For?” published in the December 2002 Harvard Business Review.  He suggests that virtue and integrity are vital to an economy.  Why?  According to an online dictionary virtue is defined as showing high morals standards and integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.  My husband has worked for over a quarter century in the medical device, biologics and pharmaceutical industry.  His industry is governed by standards and the FDA.  These standards are “self-imposed” by organizations that have met to create standards that the industry follows.  The FDA quite often recognizes these standards as valid principles for a company to follow.  We, as consumers, trust that these standards are followed.  Of course, there are instances where these standards are not followed and trust is lost.  And once that trust is lost, the companies lose their customer base. 

Mr. Handy, also states that the purpose of a business “…is not to make a profit…It is to make a profit so that the business can do something more or better.  That ‘something’ becomes the real justification for the business.”  But what is the better?  Just a better mousetrap?  The rest of his article suggests something even more than a better mousetrap, but a better world.  He speaks of democraticizing companies so all have a vote in the progress of the company, sustainability – environmental and social, and taking care of the consumer.  I’m trying to wrap my mind around some of the concepts he put forward.  This article was written over 13 years ago.  I’m not sure who primarily reads the Harvard Business Review (not me, though I have appreciated the few articles I’ve been given in my class), but I would assume it is those who are the movers and shakers in any industry.  I’m not seeing that many have taken into consideration his advice (or it’s slow moving).  But, as an aspiring entrepreneur is shouldn’t matter to me if I see others following his suggestions or not.  What am I going to do with the suggestions?

After reading this, I’ve considered how I would let others I “employ” have a vote in the progress of the company.  I don’t have an answer yet, but it has given me food for thought.  Would I purposely keep my business small to avoid to many votes?  I don’t know.  Sustainability, at least environmental sustainability, is visible in the business world – from “green” companies to those who do sincerely watch their “carbon footprint”.  I have also considered how I will maintain integrity in my earthly stewardship with my business ventures.  The social sustainability is a new concept to me, though I have considered what I would give my “employees” if I should employ any.  This will be a process to be reviewed.  Taking care of the consumer is also receiving headlines these days.  Some companies are exploring many different avenues to help take care of their consumers WITHOUT it being legislated.  That is noteworthy.  I haven’t yet decided how I’m going to take care of my consumers, though it is a consideration in my game plan. 

Mr. Hardy hints that some of this needs to be legislated though he notes that the laws often lag behind the actual need.  I hope they don’t need to be legislated because then it becomes a form of resentment rather than a true change of heart.  I would rather be educated and allow to make my own changes than be told what I have to do.

Another concept we were asked to consider in class was from a speech given by Elder Gay entitled, “Entrepreneurship and Consecration.”  Elder Gay states a similar reason for business that we are to help ourselves to serve others.  That is my hope that I will have a business that will help me and my family as well as help others have a better live whether through the product itself or through how I choose to run my business.

Balance and money

One question I have had the entire semester, is how to balance life while being an entrepreneur?  I was grateful for the video of Randy Komisar of Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers as he discussed balancing life and career successfully.  He stated that balance is more like a swinging pendulum than a static pendulum.  At one time, money, opportunity and power are more important than other aspects of your life.  As one journeys through life, one needs to determine what is more important – other aspects or the trappings of success.  What makes you happy?  Some people are happy making money but one can be happy making money to provide for a family.  Money is not the object, providing for your family is the object.  Happiness comes from attaining the object – so the journey is important.  If the object itself becomes more important than the purpose of the object then happiness is lost. 

What has helped me was understanding that the balance is like the swinging pendulum.  I think I can understand that the object may move the way we attain balance.

We were also asked to answer the following questions:

§  What is your attitude toward money?  I feel money is important to sustain life and to help others.  I like to have enough to do what I would like to do – such as visit my children whenever I want, go on vacations with my husband, provide for charitable organizations, and buy lots of books.

§  How can your view of money affect the way you live?  Sometimes, it has allowed me to work at job and just show up without contributing.  I’m just working to sustain life and as my church contributions are “automatically” part of my budget, I still help others.

§  What rules are recommended for prospering?  According to Stephen W. Gibson in is article, “Attitude on Money”, the rules of prospering are:

§    

Rule 1. Seek the Lord and have hope in him Rule

2. Keep the commandments, that includes the temporal ones, tithing and fast offerings. Rule

3. Think about money and plan how you can become self-reliant.

Rule 4. Take advantage of chances for learning so you will not be ignorant of these matters. Education, as President Hinckley has taught us, isthe Key to Opportunity.

Rule 5. Learn the laws upon which the blessings of wealth are predicated.

Rule 6. Do not send away the naked, the hungry, the thirsty or the sick or those who are held captive.

Importance and Becoming

This week, I learned about the book, Your Emotional Footprint.  I immediately purchased this book because I wanted to understand what motivates me and others.  I have received valuable insights so far in this class, but this book might be the clincher to my lack of motivation.  I hope so.  I want to move forward with my life and my goals, but there is still something holding me back.  I think I know what it is and I’m struggling with overcoming it.  As I read the first pages of this book (thank you, Amazon Prime!) and Woody Woodward wrote about importance, I’m more convinced this is what I’m looking for.  Not that I need to be important, but I do need to feel that my goal is important – that it will make a difference – that it will help someone other than myself.  I don’t need to the change the world kind of importance.  I just need to know that it is more than making money.  Perhaps, I just need to launch and the importance will follow. 

It was also comforting to hear Mr. Ritchie say that even at his age, he is still learning and becoming better.  I didn’t list that as one of my fears, but I know I want to continue learning and becoming better.  As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I know that life doesn’t end at death and it didn’t begin at birth.  I know that we are always becoming.  I don’t think I’ll ever be bored if I’m always striving to BECOME.