It seems like the traditional "website" is starting to phase out. The reason is simple: THE CONTENT IS STATIC!!! With all the social networking sites on the web, information is being created faster than people can absorb it. There will always be a need for small businesses to have some sort of web presence (possibly a website) but the days of sites reading, "last updated 4 months ago," are numbered. So what are your options? You can learn HTML, or hire a web designer and pay him to update your site weekly or bi-weekly, or you can make use of the FREE social-networking platforms that are already out there. Try these three to start: MYLOCALSPOT - Like a MySpace, but for businesses. Easy to use site lets you upload pictures, contact info, business description, current specials and a products/services list. Update it at any time and keep your customers up-to-date. WORDPRESS - Let's you create a blog and prove that you're an "expert" in your field. Great to backlink from (if you can get some traffic and good content). Templates are available everywhere, so u can make your blog's appearance relate to your business. Keep it updated! SQUIDOO - Create your own "lens" (a.k.a. webpage). Customize it and talk about your business. Edit it's look and feel and use it to keep customers up-to-date.
Erm, you can learn php and html... Make your own tailored cms. It's not like new websites are doing away with html... Unless you use icky icky flash.
You're forgetting something. Most businesspeople who'll be making these decisions are CEOs, not tech-heads. They also don't want "free" software most of the time either since it's normally not going to meet their needs (yeah, WordPress may meet their needs now, but what about a year or two down the road?) - which means they're going to be spending money on people to provide them with the solutions they need. Which when you think about it, kinda defeats the whole "free" idea you had.
If you want business website, you definitely need to spend money. Your customers wont like to see you squeeze yourself just for a site. Do you expect them to buy something from you?
All good points... There will always be a place for websites, but the new opportunities presented by 2.0 can help a lot of people with a limited budget generate a significant web presence quickly and easily. They're good for small businesses (obviously Exxon Mobile has it's own web marketing dept).
NO NO NO NO quit using wp and all of these automated sites. Doesn't this get old for you all. I put up my 23rd word press site today wohoo. Try and go out on a limb and create your own custom cms be original. You can only do so much with wp
It doesnt even really help people on low budgets, for the last 10 years or more there have been plenty of free methods of creating websites and as per the last 10 years most of the free methods are very tell tale that it is what they are. "Web 2.0" has to be one of the best marketing successes ever as it is 99% rubbish.