After posting at Search Engine Land on a new patent application from Google, I decided to keep things simple over here tonight, and go back to basics.

I couldn’t think of anything more basic that to ask why someone might want to have a web site to begin with. Here are ten reasons that I came up with:

  1. Because there’s not enough room on a business card.

  2. Stands in for you to your customers/clients/friends/associates when you’re asleep/eating dinner/spending time with friends and family/doing other stuff.

  3. Can answer the same questions for you over and over and over.

  4. Makes it easy for people to find your phone number without having to dig out the phone book.

  5. Allows people too shy to call to send an email with the address they find there.

  6. Enables you to share your expertise, experience, education, and enthusiasm without lifting a finger.

  7. Permits you to have simultaneous one-on-one conversations with many different people.

  8. Presents the opportunity for you to show off your personal side or your professional side or both sides.

  9. Lets you keep in touch with friends and acquaintances.

  10. Spreads your voice across the globe.

Added – More reasons from people commenting on this post:

  1. Having and using web sites allows people with limited access, because of handicap or illness, to broaden their interactions with others. – Miriam, of Solas Web Design

  2. A web site allows you to make connections with people who share common interests but with whom you might not other wise have crossed paths and met. – Barry, of StayGoLinks

  3. To add to and supplement other marketing efforts, such as newspaper print promotions – Elizabeth Able.

  4. To have a chance to experiment with and learn about design. – Praveen