Small Business – We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Web Sites

I’m offended by the “greasy hair” stereotype, but other than that, this article has some true things to say. I came from the web development world, where a budget of $30,000 was average. I worked at a company that developed a web site and sold it for $580 million bucks.

You don’t need that. From the article: ” Many people I know are fine with a simple and professional Web page.” That’s what I advocate, a simple, professional web site for FREE!.

Quoting from Small Business – We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Web Sites By Gene Marks

Many people I know are fine with a simple and professional Web page.

But gee, many of the business owners I know — those incredible, pathetic, dismal, wretched losers who so shock the turtleneck-and-vest-wearing, greasy-haired crowd — don’t necessarily have those needs. They are gas station owners, restaurateurs, insurance agents, shopkeepers. They’re CPAs, architects, landscapers, plumbers, and electricians. They’re not selling books online or running auctions. They’re not distributing software or hosting phone services. They’re not complex. They’re investing elsewhere. They’re O.K. with no Web site.

A Vested Interest in the Debate

When was the last time I visited the site for the corner Exxon guy or the sub shop across from my office? To see the price of gas? To get nutrition info on ham on rye?

If you search the Web you’ll find lots of people writing about how small business owners must have a Web site. Dig a little further and guess what? Many of the people shouting how absolutely critical it is for a small business to have a Web site are — drum roll, please — in the business of helping small businesses create Web sites. Surprise! Despite what all the business experts — including the turtleneck-and-vest-wearing classes — may say, Web sites are not an absolute necessity.

Good business owners invest wisely and for the most return. They’re not in business to run a site just because it’s cool or hip. Many people I know are fine with a simple and professional Web page. Let the turtleneck-and-vest-wearing, greasy-haired geeks suck their fees from someone else.

Read the entire article at:
http://www.cio-today.com/story.xhtml?story_id=013001HJPXZ6&page=3&full_skip=1

Please Comment »

This entry was posted on Sunday, January 11th, 2009 at 9:59 am and is filed under marketing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Tags: business, cheap, free, small, small business, small business web, web site, webhost