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Does your business really need a website? Isn’t that social media profile good enough? Well, there’s more to it than you might expect.Getting a website for your business isn’t just about keeping up with the Jones’s. It’s about growing your business and finding more effective ways to gain new customers. Building a website doesn’t need to be difficult or expensive, especially with all the affordable and free tools available today.Need more reasons to have a website for your business? Here they are:
It’s A Consistent Presence
For most businesses, it’s simply not feasible to stay open 24 hours a day. The good news is that customers can still get important information about your business or place orders if you have a website. Think of it as your nighttime answering service- you can go home, and it’s there to assist customers when you’re away.
It Builds Trust
Customers can be wary when considering visiting a new business. In fact, most customers search for businesses before they decide to visit in person. If you don’t have a business website, people aren’t as willing to take a chance on your business. Basically, a website gives customers a sense of security and legitimacy.
You Can’t Rank Without One
The fact is, you can’t show up in search results if you don’t have a website. Not only that, but you also don’t even have a shot at getting one of the higher-ranking positions on the first page of search results. It’s worth mentioning that the first few search results take the lion’s share of the business. If you want bigger profits, then you need one of those top positions.
People Want Info On The Go
Many, if not most, people search for businesses to visit while they’re already on the go. Your business needs a website so people can start heading your way. If you have a Google Business profile, and get good reviews, you’ll show up higher in the list of suggested places to visit if you have a website. Having a website is a major ranking factor in the Google Business Profile algorithm.
Interaction And Engagement
Online interaction is bigger than ever, and it gives you an easy, quick way to engage with your customers and community. The more you engage with your customers, the more they’re apt to revisit your business and recommend you to their friends and family. Not to mention that it’s also good for your search ranking.
Keep Customers Up To Date
You might be setting up a huge sale, but how will people know about it? There might be some regular customers that see your flyers, but most people tend to find out about such events from a website or from social media posts.
Also, you might have to close the shop temporarily for renovations or weather issues for example. Whatever the reason, if you have a website, you can keep your customers and current prospects informed by having a website.
Beat Your Budget
Marketing can be quite an expensive campaign for any business. While you still might need to spend some money on marketing, you can save a lot of money with a good website.
A well designed, promoted website can do the same work as a big expensive marketing run, and even be more beneficial to your business in the long run. Want to save money? Build a solid website and let it speak for itself.
Your Business Image, Your Way
Yes, what people say about you can affect your business’ image. However, you also have the opportunity to craft your own brand, with your own public image. That can be difficult to do if you’re only showing yourself to customers in person.
Your business needs a website that truly showcases who you are as a brand. It should show everything from your scheme, logo, services, and even your company values.
This is a branding opportunity, as well as a way to bring new customers into your business.
Boost Leads
No matter whether you’re selling contracting services, custom dog outfits, or anything else, leads are really the key to getting a profit. Customers can find your website and decide that what you’re offering is exactly what they need.
Even if you don’t dabble in e-commerce, these customers are leads that will eventually visit your business and purchase your products and services. These leads can even grow into more leads in the future as your new customers recommend you.
Stay Competitive
Just because ‘another business’ is doing it isn’t always a good strategy for making choices for your company. With that said, the world is moving more towards online interaction every day. Chances are, if your competitors have a website and you don’t, they’ll get the business.
People want access to information any time of day, and if you can’t provide that, they just might walk away. So many businesses have websites these days that if you don’t have one, people might even question whether you’re a legitimate business or not.
SEO Is Marketing On The Cheap
A website in and of itself is a great marketing tool. However, if you employ some good SEO (search engine optimization) techniques, you can boost that marketing even further.
There are plenty of tools out there to help improve your SEO, and you can even do it yourself for low cost (to a certain degree) if you’re willing to invest some time in to it.
The thing about SEO is that it’s a major factor in how you show up in search engines. Imagine getting the top search result position without even having to pay for an ad!
It Helps Build Local Business
Small businesses do need to put in the extra work to keep up with big box stores (all of which have websites, we should add). When you’re a small, local business you’re also relying on the people in your community to visit your business.
A website with properly targeted local keywords can help you bring in more money, and more customers from around your area. In fact, it’s one of the best ways to gain new customers that are looking for the kinds of products and services you offer.
People are looking for places near them and a website can help them find you.
It’s A Constant Reference
People may not carry around books full of contact information anymore, but they do save valuable contacts in their phones. Your website should have all the information customers need to get a hold of you and visit your business. Then, people can bookmark your site (or simply search for it again) and see all the information they need.
The easier you make it for people to find you or retrieve your information, the more likely they are to do business with you again.
Give Customers A Place To Brag
People trust online reviews just about as much as they trust a personal recommendation. When you have a website, you have somewhere that people can go to talk about their positive experiences. Not only that, if you also have a Google Business profile and list yourself on online business directories, you can expand the ways that customers have to leave you a glowing review. And, when you have more positive reviews, you also get more new customers because they trust those reviews.
Cater To Smartphone Addicts
Most people search for things they need on their smartphones, and your business could be one of those things. Google prioritizes websites that are designed to be mobile friendly, and you can benefit from that (and show up before your competitors in search results).
Create a website with dynamic, responsive design, and double check to make sure it’s mobile friendly and Google Mobile First compliant. It’s as simple as that, and you’re already putting yourself ahead of other businesses that only have desktop friendly websites.
Most Customers Consider It A Given
The fact is, customers more or less expect your business to have a website. When you don’t have one, it’s kind of a surprise. Note: a Facebook profile in your business’ name does not count as a business website.
Instead of serving as a ‘website’ social media profiles should be to further promote your business and engage with your customers. Having only a social media profile listed as your ‘website’ comes off as unprofessional and may give customers the idea that you’re inexperienced or not a legit business.
In short- take the time to make a nice website and use other platforms to build upon your polished, professional site.
Conclusion
Perhaps one of the biggest reasons to have a business website is that customers expect it- being redirected to a Facebook profile rather than a website is frustrating, and it might look sloppy.
Think about it yourself. If you are looking for a professional business to do work for you, would you have any concerns if their website was a listing on a Facebook page? For me, I wouldn’t even consider them.
It is a fact! Websites bring in in leads and when kept up to date, can help communicate to existing and new prospects. Websites are a must for any business and if your business doesn’t have one, I strongly advise that you get one created. We can do this for you so that you have a site that has the ability to rank at the top of Google.
If your business does not have a website, each year that goes by will set you further behind because your customers expect to find you on line and with your own website.
Also, remember that a website is there even when your employees have long since clocked out for the day. Or, most importantly, your website is the most effective passive lead generation tool you can possibly have.
So if you are thinking about having a website created, contact us today by filling in the contact form below.