When someone meets you for the first time, it's likely that they are making a lot of assumptions about you based on your appearance: the clothes you wear, how you style your hair, the car you drive. Whether they choose to do business with you often is based on their first impression, even before you say a word.
With so much business being conducted online these days, business interactions are often based on a first impression that has nothing to do with meeting you face-to-face, but rather with your online appearance, especially your website.
You know you need an online presence to do business in today's market, but what kind of impression is your website making about you and your business? Is your site designed using a template or does it reflect the unique services your business can offer?
Keep in mind that popular do-it-yourself sites offer templates that can be used by anyone, in any industry. It's embarrassing to find that you and a competitor both use the same design!
You wouldn't buy a hammer and nails and build your own storefront; it wouldn't be secure or up to building codes – and it certainly wouldn't express the professional image you want for your business. So why do would you consider a do-it-yourself website?
Online shopping carts add another dimension to website design. In light of recent news about hackers and cyber-theft, customers want to know that they are making their purchase from a business whose site is secure.
It's easier to do things right the first time than to try and make up for mistakes down the road. A website that is attractive, industry-appropriate, easy to find, functional, and secure makes for a great first impression!