Why should you get a website?
There are many reasons people want to be on the world wide web, and those reasons vary from person to person and from business to business, but there are a few reasons that are common.
Just for myself
Actually, you probably already have a website. Dozens of them, hosted for free with ads. Yes, I'm thinking of your Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube. Running your own website can link these otherwise closed-gardened and separate identities. Most websites provide templates you can include on a personal website to link to the identities on theirs.
Unlike large websites like Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, etc, you have complete control over how your identity is displayed. Not only can your background and a few colors be changed, but almost everything is available.
A service provider
The web can provide extra convenience to your customers. You are just a click away, and your customers can operate on a schedule that fits them, while you can operate on a schedule that fits you.
The web is also a great promotional mechanism. It's possible to provide nearly limitless amounts of information at an extremely low (and falling) price. Through the sorts of "links" that you probably used to get from our home page to this one, you customers can jump to exactly the service they want.
A retailer
Running a complete retail website is roughly equal to running an enormous store, 24/7, right in front of all your customer's homes, stocked with your entire inventory. Only much cheaper and more environmentally friendly.
Computers are very commonplace nowadays, with a computer in almost every home, and many homes with more than one. You are just a click away from those customers. Selling merchandise on the web can be as simple as listing a few items for sale and providing directions to your store, to the "complete retail website" with your entire inventory available and automated checkout.