The Pro's and Cons of a web presence

To start with, I need to ask you a question.

If you are looking for a local service, what is your primary resource?

For me, it has been the internet for some years now. I use it to look up phone numbers, find directions, and find local businesses…

In the last week some of the things I have looked for online are:

Looked for the FHT, an estate agents number in Gosport, the postcode for my ex husband, bus and train timetables, information from local colleges, information to allow me to contact David Wells, crystal suppliers, the phone number of Rainbow Therapies in Clanfield, the postcode for a friend, a company that makes products associated with the 'Day of the Dead' in Mexico, resources on Natural Beauty for an article I am writing, background information on the Museum of Witchcraft in Boscastle for another article, local suppliers of Flexifoil kites - the list is endless!

Even if you think you don't use it you probably do. If you doubt me, go home, open up your internet connection and click on the 'History' button on the toolbar. This gives a complete listing of every site you have visited in the last day, 3 days, week, and month, whatever!

If you do not have, or do not use the internet and you are in business, you are missing out on a huge number of potential customers

. ..And you want the business, surely?