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

If your customers live and work within a few miles of your\rbrick and mortar business or home based business, you might\rnot need one.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Catherine Franz, a Business Coach, specializes in for-profit\rnonfiction writing, marketing, and product development.\rNewsletters, articles, forms, and other information business\rdevelopment, marketing success, writing, and laws of\rattraction are available at: http://www.abundancecenter.com\rblog: http://abundance.blogs.com