Why do you need a website?
If you are a small business owner (or you’re just starting out), you may think there is no benefit in having a website when you can do all your online marketing on Social Media. Or you may decide to save money and get a freebie and do it yourself. Or maybe you have an established business that has relied on word of mouth and think that you are doing quite well.
We are planning to write a series of articles about why your business needs a website so we don’t have a huge blog article.
Here are 10 benefits of having a website:
- Brand visibility and brand recognition = Credibility
- Your website is the anchor of your marketing.
- An efficient way to promote your business.
- Get customer insights by tracking user behaviour on your website.
- Stay ahead of your competition – your competitors are online
- Create a tool for sales generation
- Showcase your work – online portfolio, reviews, testimonials
- Keep your business open 24/7
- Generate new leads by always being “findable”
- Develop a mailing list
So, let’s start with the 1st reason:
1. YOUR BUSINESS WILL GAIN CREDIBILITY
You want to let people know that your company exists and what services you are providing for your clients. A website that represents your business will help you provide online visibility and discoverability as well as establish recognition for your brand.
More and more people are searching online for things they want, for solutions to problems or for information about a restaurant, a business or a store. If you don’t have a website, potential customers will go to your competitors who do, especially if you are a home-based business.
Having a website will give you and your business credibility besides providing the information your potential customers are looking for. It says “I am here. I mean business and I am here to stay!” Many potential customers and clients won’t take you seriously if you don’t have a website.
I am still amazed that in 2021, almost half of businesses don’t have a website! The Telstra Small Business Intelligence report reveals that 1 in 5 consumers will stop considering a small business if it doesn’t have a website. A website plays a fundamental role in attracting customers, but 41% of Australian SMBs in our survey don’t have one.
47% of customers under the age of 40 report using a search engine to find (or research) a small business at least once a day.
FIRST IMPRESSION COUNT
Let’s face it, we live in a word where we “Google” before we buy almost anything, review sites using Yelp and we “check-in” via Facebook. Beginning with your website, consumers are passing judgement and making a decision whether or not they will even call you (rather than visiting your store, restaurant or office).
They are likely to dismiss you entirely if they think that your website doesn’t reflect the kind of experience your business should offer.
NO WEBSITE MEANS LOSING BUSINESS
If you don’t have a website, you are missing opportunities for customers to identify who you are and if they want to spend money with you.
“Have a bad website is better to have a no website at all.”
Having a D.I.Y freebie website is better than having a website at all, but is it providing the professional image you desire for your brand?
Sometimes having a bad website can be worse sing it literally makes your business look bad.
That’s nothing less professional online than a website that looks that was design by a kid in his 5th grade as a school project! Businesses invest in flyers and other marketing materials and completely disregard the way the website looks.
Where you are a solo operator, or you have a team of 100 people, your website should appear as if you have a dedicated team to keep your online presence strong and noteworthy. For most small businesses, it is not necessary to update your website every day. However, having a professional website, that offers customers easy navigation, professional quality content and overall experience that engages them enough to do business with you is the key.
With careful planning, a functional website designed with your customers’ needs in mind can provide a professional image that your business needs to grab the attention of the visitors.
In our next article, we will cover more reasons why your business needs a website.
Until then, work on your online business presence! You contact us to do a website health check on your website to give you suggestions of what you can do to improve it.
Dorin, your friendly online marketer
