What percentage of small - mid market businesses have a line item in their budget for "website"?
I'd recommend picking a number lower than one.
Every Business
We believe in web technology and the positive force it can have on a business… on every business.
Successfully implementing a web initiative relies on applying the right strategy, with the right technology, with the right image, with the right promotions, and with the right team to manage it all.
Budget Challenge
One of the biggest challenges is that most organizations still have not developed a reasonable and dedicated budget for their annual web initiative. More and more people are recognizing the power of the web and how it can influence, modernize and energize an organization, but few small to mid sized businesses are addressing this reality in the annual budgetary process.
Allocation
Finding money within allotted budgets means pulling from multiple departments and accounts because the web is not so linear that it fits in a single traditional budget category such as “Marketing” or “Technology”. When implemented correctly it also raises the bar in Management, Product Development, Customer Service and Public Relations. If the budget plan is already in effect you should reallocate funds from each applicable department in small amounts to create a reasonable new budget area. If you are planning for your next fiscal year, then there has never been a better time to shift funds around and create a new budget category for Web Initiative. Don’t make the same mistake next year; allocate resources towards developing your web initiative to improve your entire operations and organization.
If you are a nonprofit organization, then getting corporate sponsors is the best way to address a low web budget. Sponsorships can be placed as banner ads on your site or as primary, secondary sponsors who fund the majority or the entire site.
Regardless of your budget situation, the web is increasingly important to all organizations. It plays a vital role in more than just the marketing efforts. It is not something that you build once and sit on; the web is and should be an evolving facet of your organization.
Then and only then will your site truly have purpose and value.