49% of small businesses currently have a website (or 51% of small businesses do not have a website).

84% of midsize businesses have a website. Midsize is defined as $10 million to $500 million in size.

The last time we took a survey, we found that about 1/2 of all pcAmerica customers using Cash Register Express or Restaurant Pro Express have websites.

My advice to those businesses that don't currently have websites is - it's time.

Why do so many retail stores and restaurants not have a web site?

Many small retailers feel that they don't have the technical expertise to set up a website.

Many small retailers believe that the cost is exorbitant.

Many managers and owners just don't have the time to even think about setting up a website.

Let's see if I can help you overcome your objections.

You really do need a website. It doesn't matter what type of business you own. Without a website, you don't exist (in the eyes of many people). Fewer people use the yellow pages to find your business. Your customers are searching the web to find you.

Let's say you own a small convenience store (called John's Convenient Stop). Why would John's need a website? People pass it by all the time. If they need a beer or a carton of milk, they'll stop by and make a purchase.

Having a website presence allows your customers to find you on the net. Just go to johnsconvenientstop.com. Your customers can now go your website and find your location, address, directions, and your phone number. Your local customers can call you and ask you if you have milk, ice, or other items that they may desire. Your website presence takes the place of a listing in the phone book (or can enhance your phonebook entry if you make reference to your website within the phone book).

Having just a one page website allows you to give your customers information that they may need in deciding to stop in your store. If you own a hardware store, you can list those items that people in your area may want. Add a list of the items that you sell on the front page of your website. People searching Google will find you.

How difficult is it to create a website? Many website hosting sites offer free templates. A website hosting site is owned by a company that places your website online so that other people can see it. You can choose a ready made template for your type of business. You add your business name, a little information about your company and you're all set.

If you are good with Microsoft Word, you can actually create a website using Microsoft Word and place it on the web.

If you are not technical, it is likely that one of your employees can figure out how to put your business on the web.

Start small and grow. Start with a one page website. Take a digital photo of your business and place it on your web page. You may also want to add a photo of the inside of your business or perhaps some of the products that you sell. Add some photos of your staff and let people know more about your store. Add a list of items that you sell and you are all set.

You don't need to sell anything on the web (although you can). You just want people to know more about your retail store or restaurant.

If you want people to keep returning to your website, add some content. Add a little section to your website that has some exciting information about your retail store or restaurant. One week, you may want to offer a free soda with any purchase. Another week, you may offer free French fries. Perhaps you can add a weekly contest. Anyone who has a cash register receipt invoice number ending with the number "5" gets a 10% discount the next time they come into your store. Or perhaps give a 10% discount during a certain time period.

If you own a clothing store, you can feature one great sale item each week. Just take a picture of the item with your digital camera and post it on your web site. Give 50% off on a certain item each week. That will get people to keep returning to your website and returning to your store.

How much does a website cost?

Here's a couple of places that can get you started.

Microsoft offers FREE websites for your small business. It won't cost you a penny and it comes with FREE templates (predesigned pages) to help you get started.

Go to:

http://www.officelive.com

Homestead is a great place for a starter website. Homestead is now owned by Intuit (the creator of QuickBooks). You can choose from over 2,000 ready made templates. You just fill in your company name, add some text and photos (or use the included clipart) and you are all set. Homestead is FREE for 30 days. After that, the cost is $4.95 per month.

For more information go to:

http://www.homestead.com

You can get a little more sophisticated by going to 1and1.com which runs $9.95 per month (after a 30 day trial). 1and1.com can add ecommerce to your website so that you can sell items directly from the web (via credit card).

For more information on 1and1.com go to:

1and1.com

There are dozens of other companies that offer FREE websites. Just search Google for free website.

Many restaurant owners use Google or MapQuest to give directions for drivers making deliveries.

I'm not sure if you would want to hire Lauren Rosenberg. She used Google Maps for walking directions to a location. She used her Blackberry and Google Maps which took her right into the middle of a highway which had no sidewalks or pedestrian paths.

Lauren got hit by a car, suffered some minor cuts and minor brain damage.  

She is suing Google and Verizon for the bad directions.

To read the entire story go to:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/197618/woman_sues_google_for_bad_directions.html

or go here:

http://www.nydailynews.com/tech_guide/2010/05/31/2010-05-31_lauren_rosenberg_sues_google_blames_faulty_google_maps_directions_after_being_hi.html