Every business these days should have a web site to promote their products and services from, regardless of the niche they operate in. A well designed site can quickly pay for itself in new orders. Yet there are still lots of firms around that don't have one. This is a huge mistake.

More and more people turn to the internet every day to find local business services. A few years ago we all turned to the Yellow Pages when we needed to find a local tradesman, but these days, this traditional medium is being rapidly replaced by the internet.

Getting a web site for your business does not have to be a huge expense. For as little as a few hundred pounds you can get a simple site that will be more than adequate for your needs.

You do not need a lot of functionality, a simple static site in most cases will suffice for a small business. You don't need lots of moving graphics, and in most cases you don't even need to be able to take payments.

For most small businesses, the primary purpose of a web site is to generate leads rather than sales. Once you have the lead's contact details, you can sell them your service later.

Your new web site should firstly give your business an online presence so that people can find you. Simply publishing a web site is not enough, it needs to be optimized for the keywords your prospects type in to the search engines. When selecting a web design service, you need to ensure they fully understand the importance of search engine optimization (SEO). If they don't, look elsewhere. There is no point having a web site that no one can find.

Once found, your site has to give your visitor a strong reason to contact you or to give you their contact details so that you can contact them. You have to make them an offer they cannot refuse. Promote a special offer that is only available for a limited time, or offer a free eBook that will provide them valuable information in return for their email address. Once you have a lead's details, you have the opportunity to present your offer to them again, and tests show that the more someone is exposed to an offer, the more likely they are to take it up.

Finally, your small business web design should include client testimonials for credibility and a strong guarantee to remove the risk from your prospects minds. These elements will increase the contact rates you make with your prospects, and ultimately the number of sales your site generates.