I met with a client recently. He showed me his friend’s domain name.
Only instead of going to his friends business – it went to A COMPETITOR’S business.
Not good. Not good at all! Any potential customers that type in his business name on the internet, are going to be sent DIRECTLY to his competitor’s page!
You’ve workedhard to establish a reputation with your name… that’s your BRAND.
People hear your name, or see your logo, and they identify certain things with it.
You want consistency with that brand… from your business cards – to your newspaper advertisement – to your website.
The last thing you need is a competitor hopping onto a domain name registry and snagging your domain name, and STEALING YOUR CUSTOMERS!
I had approached this particular friend a couple of years ago about setting his website up for him. He wasn’t ready yet. He could have avoided a major head-ache (and saved a lot of money snagging my talents before my rates went up!)
The good news is, there is a legal precedent that MAY help him get his domain name back… though it could cost a lot in legal fees, and if his name is not a registered trademark – there is still a chance the other company may be able to keep it.
The whole thing just sounds like something out of a mobster movie.
Why am I telling you this story?
Because I know how some of you feel about getting your website set up.
Some of you have been waiting and procrastinating and putting it off…
Because you:
- Don’t see the need to have a website
- Plan on doing it yourself
- Don’t think you can afford it
I’ll tell you.
If you don’t see the need to have a website – I hope I don’t offend you when I say this – but you really don’t get it. In fact – if you don’t think your business needs a web presence of SOME kind – then you’re probably just not going to be convinced… I’m guessing you still use a rotary telephone.
If you plan on setting up your website yourself – well – Good for you! I hope you can make it happen. But it’s been my experience that it’s often cheaper to pay someone that KNOWS how to set it up than it is to take the time and energy that it takes to learn how to set it up yourself. Plus – a website doesn’t do you any good if it doesn’t get indexed by search engines – and I know a bit about the tools of the trade… Give me a call, and we’ll chat about it.
If you don’t think you can afford to pay 5-12 thousand dollars for one of those fancy-schmancy websites… you are probably right! I often look at what people pay for websites – and I shake my head.
Hatcher Media can take that web technology, throw in some creative design – and give you the kind of website you could only DROOL over for a FRACTION of the cost. Get in touch with me, and we’ll make it happen!
