When I'm not actually coding new websites I'm always on the lookout for businesses that don't currently have a website.

I browse the printed media and zero in on business ads that don't show a website URL in their ad.

A URL is the acronym for Universal Resource Locator. It's the internet "street address" for your website, and allows folks putting that URL into their computer browsers to find your website. There are other ways to find a website, but those are for another article.

When I find an ad that doesn't show a website URL, I do a search on line to see if I can find a website for that business. I don't want to waste their time calling a firm that already has an online presence.

When I don't find a website URL for that business, and I search hard, I call them and ask if they are interested in having a website built for them.

In many cases I find that they do already have a website, but the search engines haven't been about to find it. When a searcher puts appropriate keywords into a search engine to find that business (keywords such as what the business does, the town or city they are in, and so on) sometimes the search engines still can't find that website. There are ways to help search engines find your website more easily, but those too are for another article.

The point of this article is...put in your URL!

If you have a website already, put the URL for it in every ad, on every business card, on your letterhead, brochures, fliers etc.

Why?

You've paid good money to have that website built.

You want people to find it.

Your website will provide so much more information for the interested visitor than any print ad can. Key information, like hours of operation, email contact information, pages focusing in on what it is that business does best, and why the visitor should do business with them. And they can get that information about you 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, even when the business isn't open!

If you don't broadcast your URL widely, and if your website isn't "tuned up" in terms of being easy to find with appropriate keyword search engines, then the investment you've made in your website isn't bringing the return it should.

Websites shouldn't cost you money...they should make you money.

Adding your URL to every business form you have when it's up for reprint will have minimal cost and will help ensure your website gets new business for you.

Not adding your URL to every business form you have when it's up for reprint means that there will be potential customers of yours out there looking for your business online, and they won't be able to find you because they don't know your internet "street address" and the search engines can't find your site either.