Most small business owners put owning a website on the back burner. Do I Really Need a website? They wonder. They are so used to traditional marketing strategies that they can’t see the need to replace something already working. If this is how you feel, you need to change your thinking.
Consider your website as a digital home for your business. When your company has a digital home, everybody, regardless of their location on the globe, can find your products and services and hopefully buy them hassle-free.
Nowadays, many people carry out a quick Google search before trying new services or products to help inform their purchase. That’s why having a website is crucial for every business that needs to stay ahead of the competition.
Nevertheless, many small enterprises are not utilizing the web’s full potential. And according to Small Business Trends, 36% of small businesses based in the US do not have a website. It’s because they feel that it’s too challenging and costly for them to own one.
However, this is an enormous problem because, according to a Blue Corona study, 80 percent of customers constantly research a business online before stopping by.
Likewise, according to a Stanford University study, customers will gauge a company’s integrity based on the design of its website.
So, if you are still sitting on the fence debating whether you need to have a website, this blog post is for you. It’ll give you practical reasons why you need a website.
Here are the Reasons Why You Need A Website For Your Business
Attract new customers
Maybe you are content with the current size of your business, but every firm struggles to get new customers. To promote continued success, you require a reliable way of attracting new customers. And one of the best ways to do this is having an online presence.
Nowadays, people surf the web to find global companies they are dying to do business with and find their local competitors.
To maximize the chances of your customers finding you on the web, you have to optimize your website so that you can rank high on the search engines. That way, your business will grow in leaps and bounds. You won’t even realize it.
Enhances your credibility
Exceptional credibility and reputation are the heart and soul of every business. If people constantly question your credibility, you stand no chance of growing your business.
Years ago, local businesses could advertise themselves by requesting their customers to recommend them to a neighbor. But things have changed now. Small businesses can no longer afford to overlook the significance of having a reliable online presence.
These days, regardless of the size of your business, you require a website.
Otherwise, you risk appearing to be a small operation incapable of providing an excellent service. Having a well-designed website is an easy way to improve your credibility.
Potential clients are becoming more tech-savvy, and most people search the internet first before seeking out a small business. So if you don’t have a website, but your rivals do, potential customers will ask why you don’t.
Your business looks more organized and professional
Eighty-four percent of today’s customers believe that having a website makes your company more trustworthy than having just social media accounts.
Your website is also the only excellent place to display any professional certifications or honors your company has earned over time.
Furthermore, creating your website allows you to create a branded email address (chris@yoursite.com). Thus bringing a degree of professionalism to all of your communications, mainly if you’ve previously conducted business using an individual email address.
Having a professional email sets you apart from the crowd. It gives an impression that you do not mind spending on something worthwhile.
It’ll be a challenge for your customers to find you without Online Presence.
When was the last time you plowed through a local service in a phone book? Unfortunately, those days are no longer with us. Instead, the mobile has taken over as the primary means of Internet access. According to Pew Research Org, 85% of adults in the United States own a smartphone.
When you concentrate on 16-24 year-olds, the number jumps to 97%. They’re not just taking selfies with their tablets, either.
Young people, in particular, now use their phones for banking, shopping, and scheduling appointments. As a result, small companies must think digitally to thrive in the long run.
You must have a website to fairly compete with regional services that are already reaching out to customers via the internet.
Consumers looking for a local service prioritize speed, efficiency, and ease of access. For example, customers are far more likely to book a service if they can quickly fill out an online form instead of speaking with someone directly.
Website helps in attracting more customers than social media platforms
According to a Forrester study, seventy-one percent of consumers begin their purchasing journey with a search engine such as Google or Bing. And 74% utilize search engines during the research part of the consideration stage.
So, currently, we have consumers looking for services and goods at all stages of the buying process. You will not be discovered if you do not have a website.
Even social media-focused companies such as Razor, Buffer, and Social Media Examiner found that search engines drove 5x more traffic to their sites than social media.
This doesn’t necessarily imply that people found brands by using search engines instead of social media. Instead, it insinuates that when people need more information on anything, they are five times more likely to use search engines in place of social media.
Website makes your business available 24/7 for 365 days
Running a small business takes a lot of time. Marketing your services can consume a significant amount of your time and money. Wouldn’t it be better if you could head back to doing what you love? Shouldn’t offering excellent customer service to your valued clients be your number one priority? In this fast-moving digital age, you require a professional website to keep your firm running.
The benefit of owning a website is that your company will always be accessible. Consumers now expect businesses, even tiny local ones, to be reachable online 24 hours a day, seven days a week all year round.
Business hours are no longer valid in most cases because a potential customer can inquire about your products or services at any time.
This constant access to your business can significantly increase your customer base.
It is critical to hire a professional web designer right from the beginning. The web designer should create a responsive and visually appealing website for you.
To remain competitive, your website should be both functional and visually appealing. An informative, well-designed website will cut down on the amount of time you take answering your customer questions.
So, yes you really need a website For your business
The answer is a big fat yes! It is no longer a question of “Do I need a website, it is instead when I’m getting one? In this fast-paced digital era, owning a website is one of the best investments you can ever make for your business. And you’ll reap the benefits even when you are snoring your night away.
Closing Thoughts
If your company has made it this far without a website, you might be thinking, “Do I Really Need a Website?” After all, What’s the point of owning one if my company is still profitable without it? Your site is the digital home for your company that can make money for you even when you are sleeping.
A website provides numerous advantages to small businesses. The majority of these advantages grow in value substantially time after time, much like the internet itself.
