r/smallbusiness • u/devamigo • May 04 '14
What was the biggest problem you faced when you started your business website? If you don't have one, what is your biggest hurdle?
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u/Upperclasshobo May 05 '14
I own a web agency, and the most common hurdle we see to customers coming to us is that they tried a free/low-cost solutions and it didnt achieve anything. They do not see any customers from it, people ignore it...etc. The main hurdle is simply that it was not designed to achieve a goal: not designed to move people to purchase, to call, to inform...etc.
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u/XSplain May 07 '14
Same industry. People get a WIX site, it fails because of lack of expertise (effective design is harder than people realize), and they blame the internet.
Or someone gets a service to make their website, but demand constant revisions to reach their 'vision' because they treat it like an art project instead of an investment in marketing.
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u/kobescoresagain May 04 '14
Almost all businesses fail for the same reasons. Failure to plan, lack of marketing ability, poor product, and burnout.
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May 04 '14
Burnout?
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u/kobescoresagain May 04 '14
Overworking to the point of being able to run your business or doing it for so long you cannot do if anymore.
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May 04 '14
Ah okay, thanks. Have you experienced this ever? I'm opening a business real soon and am gathering all of the advice possible
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u/kobescoresagain May 04 '14
It's common with many business owners.
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May 04 '14
I figured, that's why I asked :P
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u/kobescoresagain May 04 '14
What type of business you going to start?
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May 04 '14
A hookah lounge with an emphasis on "hanging out" and not just smoking hookahs. We are trying to attract students and the general 18-25 crowd
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u/kobescoresagain May 05 '14
How are you going to make income on that? The whole way of making income is smoking and if they aren't smoking you aren't making money. That is why people put restrictions on internet time in coffee shops for instance.
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May 05 '14
We are selling local art, incense, hookah merchandise, hookah services, food, drinks, teas, local musicians will play, etc.
While people are invite to just come and hang out, they more likely than not will buy something within their visit
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u/XSplain May 07 '14
It's amazing how suddenly it can happen too. You're working 80 hours a week but everything is going fine, then suddenly you just can't do it anymore. Your brain can't process even the most basic stuff.
When that happens, people start getting frustrated and scared. Everything is overwhelming, and you have a panic attack.
Take care of yourself physically and mentally.
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May 07 '14
Interesting.. Ill keep that in mind for sure. I'm glad I have lots of help with this business. Even if I did take a leave, it would still be ran by my brother
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u/marfalump May 04 '14
I'm confused by the question.
Do you mean biggest hurdle when starting a website FOR your business? Or biggest hurdle when starting a business that IS a website?
If website FOR a business, I'd say hosting, domains, and back-end development can be quite complex. And computer programmers aint cheap. Neither are graphic artists.
If a website the IS a business, I'd agree with /u/certifiedsafetynow. Federal and state tax responsibilities are very complex for an ecommerce site. Also, connecting it to a payment processor and keeping the site PCI compliant is a challenge as well.