Websites are a funny thing to talk about anymore. There are still a lot of people who consider the internet to be all newfangled and confusing. Then there are the Social Web people who think that websites are such old news that even talking about web design is uncool. And then there’s this really weird group of enthusiastic late-comers who still think that as soon as they get their site up and running, the world will beat a path to their virtual door.

Websites are neither cool and new, nor old and boring. They are simply necessary. It’s possible to run a business without one, but not smart.

People will eventually try to find you online. Some will go home after meeting you at a networking event and Google you right away. Others will check you out online before they sign that commission-paying order form. Whenever people decide to look for you, they need to be able to find a solid, professional looking website that has plenty of information about you, your industry, your products, and your services.

Without a website, or with a really lame one, you look like a hack.
Or a fogey. Or a scam. Or just a small-time operator.

Clearly, none of those are good.

In some ways, a decent website is just the cost of entry. For a Thought Leader, it can be so much more. It can become the hub of a robust online presence, a resource for useful and valuable information, a way to keep your potential buyers engaged with you and your brand, a source of automated income and lead generation.

There is an endless (and growing) array of ways people may find you online, and another endless number of things people could do when they get to your website. Let’s look at a few of the more common ones, to give you an idea of the importance and value of a well-created online presence.

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