Is your cousin a qualified web developer? If so, you're the lucky one. Be sure to impart a sense of urgency in getting the site completed. If he or she makes websites as a hobby, you'll want to consider the following:

1. A website can be compared to modes of transportation. You could ride a bicycle or drive a Mercedes — either way you can get around town, but one is more efficient, will take your farther faster, and will be a more comfortable ride.
2. The flashy graphics and catchy text yo...

Your current customers may not use the computer much — that is possible.

A worthy concern should be about the potential customers that do use the computer and CAN'T FIND YOU. Statistics prove that 65% of the population in rural areas uses a computer at least once per week, and 85% in metropolitan areas use a computer. These percentages have NEVER decreased. It is likely that they will continue to increase. A website keeps you in sync with this trend.

Another interesting statistic:...

You may not sell merchandise on-line, but do you sell something special that people are looking for? Do you ever have a customer say "I came here because you sell ________." For example, a store that sells a line of products or brands that are highly sought after by a faithful following, (e.g. Dept. 56, Boyd's Bears, Hallmark Cards, Red Wing Shoes, certain lines of animal products, clothing and accessories, tools) is going to have potential customers that search the Internet to find ...

If you have a web page with your Chamber of Commerce or with a listing service in your industry or parent company (e.g. realtor.com, Teleflora, bbonline, etc.), that is a GOOD thing! However, that is not a web site. It more than likely only offers contact information and a brief description of what your offer. It lumps you into a wide category that generally includes your competitors, and in many cases, it doesn't offer the interaction with the public that your own website would offer....

• Expand the effect of a print ad. Addition of a Web site address to an ad, even a very small one, means that anyone intrigued by the ad can immediately access much greater amounts of information about your company. The effect is heightened when you add suitable photos to your site.
  
• Save time. Much company time and effort is often wasted by repeatedly providing the same information either by phone or in person. Have a section on you...

Restaurant:

People choose restaurants not only for their food, but also for their ambiance and convenience.

• Show attractive photos of the interior, and sample entrees on a beautifully set table.
• Have you had good reviews? Reprint them on your site.
• Show your menu.
• Advertise special offerings and services such as business lunc...

First of all, the public now expects businesses and organizations to have a Web site -- one that can, at the very least, supply basic information and a means of getting in contact. A Web site has become nearly as essential as a telephone or fax machine or printed brochure.

But apart from fulfilling the public's expectations, a Web site will also help your business increase profits. Increasingly, people search the Web rather than the local newspapers when looking for a service or pro...