Why your Startup
NEEDS a Website

  • "Invention is not enough. [Nikola] Tesla invented the electric power we use, but he struggled to get it out to people. You have to combine both things: invention and innovation focus, plus the company that can commercialize things and get them to people." (Steve Jennings, Businessinsider.com)


    Ask yourself this, how would a website benefit your business? This question may seem like a no brainer, and yet I have become aware of MULTIPLE local institutions that have chosen not to invest in the technology. Some establishments may have either a single blog or Facebook page to represent their digital presence; however, in this day of information technology the WEB is KING. You need to be looking to get a proper website!


    If you are telling yourself any of these lines:


    • I don’t have the time to set one up.
    • I can't learn a programming language right now.
    • I'm too busy.
    • I don’t have the skills, or the money...

    or any other excuse...THINK AGAIN.


    Bill Gates said it like this:


    "Information technology and business are becoming inextricably interwoven. I don't think anybody can talk meaningfully about one without the talking about the other."


    Let's put it bluntly...YOU NEED an Online Platform. This will help you to succeed. Thanks to the technology we have today, there are SO MANY ways to set up a website. It can be as simple as creating a Wix, Weebly, WordPress site, or at the very least a Facebook page. If you're looking for something more customized, you can set up a home-built website where you handle all the ins and outs of the site yourself. You can also pay a professional company to handle building the site for you (like Tofu Tech ). Extensive research has been conducted to show the influence of a website on a company’s performance.


    Check out these statistics:


    • “30% of small businesses with a web presence generate more than 25% of their revenue online.” ( Top Digital)
    • “91% of customers have visited a store because of an online experience” ( Top Digital)
    • “According to Google, the majority of searches come from mobile devices, even if a desktop is available.” ( Top Digital)

    It's smart to put in some planning before jumping into creating a webpage. Careful planning can provide dividends later on. However, don't get intimidated if you feel your plan isn't complete, it is best to start with what you have and continue building as you learn. You will have room to tweak or update your web page later on. Here are some useful questions that will help you as you begin planning for a personal or business web page:


    Questions to ask yourself:


    • How powerful of a site would I need?
      • Does the site need a backend server, or heavy computations in the browser?
      • Do we need a database for either product information, customer information etc.?

    • What features would it need to include?
      • Do I need a shopping cart?
      • Do we need a blog system?
      • Do I need to collect any type of data?
        • Quick Fact: “A person’s first impression is formed primarily based on the (1) design-related elements of your site, which is also what underlies a (2) person’s judgment on how credible you are as a business .” ( Top Digital)
      • What kind of resources will I need? (Images, videos, collections, courses)

    • What is my overall budget?
      • Simple 1 page scrolling – around $50-$1000
      • Simple pages with lite features – around $500-$3000
      • Multiple pages many features – around $3000-$10000
      • Heavy duty industrial site - $10k-$100k
      • Custom built specialized web-app with strong computational abilities - $100k+!

    • How can I get started?
      1. DO YOUR RESEARCH!
      2. Talk to consultants
      3. Decide what you need in the site
      4. Determine your price range
      5. Decide on a creation base – (Tofu Tech, yourself, WordPress, etc.)
      6. Gather your resources – (Images, text etc.)
      7. Get a “Domain”
      8. Get a “Host”
      9. Get to building!
      10. Push it Live! (We will have more articles on this in the future!)

    • Who will maintain the site after it's created?
      • Will you maintain it yourself?
      • Will you hire someone in the company to do it?
      • Contract it out?
      • This can sometimes be a whole set of costs in and of itself. Be sure to carefully weigh your options here.
        • Quick Fact: In 2015, “51% of all small businesses use in-house staff to maintain their website, 40% use a freelancer or consultant, 38% use a DIY website builder, and 31% use a web design agency.” ( Top Digital)

    • Do I want to sell products or services through my site or through a third party?
      • Should I build product handling into the site myself? (Hardest, cheapest)
      • Should I use a pre-existing software solution? (Easier, but will cost a bit)
      • Contract a third party to handle it? (Easiest, most expensive)

    • What kind of security will I need for it?
      • Will you be collecting user profile information?
      • What about sensitive information? – payment info, personal info, etc.
      • What precautions will you or should you take? What level of security is needed? Open ended like a free info channel, or Bank level high priority security?

    • Would an API be helpful for partners or our customers?
      • APIs are a big party of modern-day computing. Many benefits come from being able to allow others to access your information. Would this be helpful for your business? How would you approach potential partners with this?

    • What kind of analytics should I collect? (Google Analytics etc)
      • How often users click various items on your page?
      • Demographics, locations, IPs, etc.
      • Time logged in, features used, the list can go on and on. What information would best benefit your company, and how will you USE the data and make sense of it after it has been collected?

    There are many additional questions and concerns you might have when starting a webpage, but these should help you to build a good foundation and a strong site. These tips are the seeds that can grow your business into the future. We realize this list may seem overwhelming at first, but keep this in mind: Even a simple site will benefit your business! If you don’t have the time, resources or energy to develop an in-depth plan for your site, then start with something simple – get it up and running and then switch it out for something better as your business progresses.


    Think of it like this: a website is like a home. And every home is made up of 3 main parts:

    1. the property or foundation where the house is built
    2. the address or location of the house
    3. the physical house itself.

    Websites are very similar:

    1. Websites have a server or “Host” (the property)
    2. A “Domain” (the address or digital location)
    3. Interfaces that make up what the user interacts with and the files of the site (the house)

    Set up these 3 pieces and you are in business!


    Problems of not having a digital presence:


    In this day and age, not having a website or any other web presence is a detriment to your business. It can even be an indication that your company is no longer in business, is outdated, or is out of touch. Your customers need access to your company through any and all mediums. In this case, more access means more business. Tech provides you with so many benefits of automation such as marketing, selling, finance, analysis, growth... the list goes on and on. Your company can and should take advantage of these resources. I’m sure you've heard this before. YouTube and many MANY blog forums have harped on this topic. Please trust us when we say IT'S IMPORTANT!


    Here's WHY.


    Benefits of a website and associated social platforms:

    • You have the ability to sell products or services with little to no direct contact.
    • You can obtain higher customer trust and better opinions about your brand and products.
    • You can provide safer interactions and transactions legally.
    • You will have a stronger foothold in an ever competitive marketplace.
    • You no longer have to rely on word of mouth. Your marketing strategy will be much simpler.
    • Web connection is trending worldwide. Don't fall behind.

    So again, I ask you to ask yourself why you haven’t already put a company or a personal website on the web. It's easier than it sounds. In the words of Nike, and Shia LeBeouf- “JUST DO IT!” Take the steps now to ensure your company success. Jump right in. Find a way to do it yourself or find someone you can hire to help you. There are plenty of resources out there and they are there for YOU.


    TOFU TECH has your back. Your efforts will go a long way in creating the successful company you can be proud of.


    If you have specific questions about any of these subjects, feel free to contact us on any of our various media sources or on our website's contact form.


    Thank you for listening. We hope you have a great day.


    Remember..."Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower." ("The Innovation Secrets of Steve Jobs," 2001)
    It’s time to lead your business forward.


    Resource Citations:

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    1- Design-related elements


    2- A Person’s judgment on how credible you are as a business


    3- “ Information technology and business are becoming inextricably interwoven. I don't think anybody can talk meaningfully about one without the talking about the other.”

    Business at the Speed of Thought: Succeeding in the Digital Economy (ed. Penguin UK, 2000) - ISBN: 9780141941882 https://libquotes.com/bill-gates/quote/lbt3j5t

    Bill Gates Quote. (n.d.). Retrieved June 12, 2020, from https://libquotes.com/bill-gates/quote/lbt3j5t


    4- bluecorona.com/blog/do-i-need-a-website/

    Do I Need a Website for My Business? Yes - Here's Why ... (n.d.). Retrieved June 12, 2020, from https://www.bluecorona.com/blog/do-i-need-a-website/


    5- topdigital.agency/2019-small-business-website-statistics-you-need-to-know-to-stay-ahead-of-the-digital-curve/

    2019 Small Business Website Statistics You Need to Know to ... (n.d.). Retrieved June 12, 2020, from https://topdigital.agency/2019-small-business-website-statistics-you-need-to-know-to-stay-ahead-of-the-digital-curve/