According to an early 2009 research study from Nielsen Online and Webvisible Survey, 44% of small businesses in the U.S don't have a website. Now whether you believe the overly repeated stat or you are a skeptic, I worked with 3 microbusinesses this year who did not have a website. So, it is true! There are small businesses that have little or no online presence or need to revamp and renew their current situation.

Whether it’s to make a purchase or to do research, consumers are searching online with information at their fingertips. As much as 82% turn to search engines when finding a local business. And 89% of B2B decision makers search the Internet for products or services before making a purchase.

Before creating or revamping your company website, you need understand the goal of your site. Should the site be just a digital billboard of information? Or should the site be more interactive? Consider the needs of your potential customers and how you plan to sell your products and services. At the very least, your website should include:

1. Home Page - This is the first impression of your website. In some cases, your entire business. Your Home page could make or break a site visit.

2. About Page - This page should have a description of your business and what you have to offer. Be deliberate with your text. While its important to include details, too much information could cause your visitor to loose interest and move on.

3. Contact Page - You need to be accessible. This is the most important page on your site and tells your customers how they can locate your business or contact you to make a purchase. Make sure you include a phone number, fax number and email address so people will know how to get in touch with you.

In evaluating what your business offers, does your site need a shopping cart so customers can purchase items online immediately? Do you want to accept credit cards on your site to automate the buying process? Once you establish the basic needs and goals, you will need to obtain a host and register a domain. There are several companies and price points to consider. Weebly.com offers free websites and hosting with no ads. Your domain will have “weebly.com” appended to the end; however, it can easily be removed by upgrading for a reasonable annual cost. Godaddy.com and Hostgator.com both offer hosting, domain registration and proprietary website creating software at a reasonable price.

I recently met with a small business owner to create a manage their marketing campaign. To my surprise, their website was disabled and had been inactive for a couple of months. Once your site is up and running, due diligence in maintaining your site is equally important. Experts have related a company's website as providing 24/7 customer service and viable information even if a microbusiness or solopreneuer is not always available. Your online presence contributes to your brand. If your customers can't rely on your website being up and running, how are they to have confidence in your products or services?

If you don't have the time to create and/or maintain your website, consider outsourcing these duties. You can hire a Virtual Assistant (VA) to setup your site and make regular changes. There are many VA's who have the organizational skills to assess your online goals and the technical expertise to create a high quality website.

Creating a website for your business is a must in this day and age. Don't give your competitors an advantage by neglecting your online presence.