Why is it important to have a website?
If you’ve ever asked, ‘why is it so important to have a website?’ then this article is for you. Running a business can be tough and finding the time and money to invest in a professional website can be difficult at times.
However, a website should be viewed as an investment that helps your business make money, not an unnecessary expense. With approximately 3.2 billion people using the internet world wide, it is no wonder why it is so important to have a website for your business.
To further this point, according to Google data, 76% of people who search for a product or service near their location on their smartphone, visit a related business within one day; and 28% of those searches result in a purchase.
What does this mean for your business? Well firstly, a professionally designed website will expose your business to countless potential customers searching for products and services online. In addition, it can be used to gain a worldwide audience for your business, generate more sales/inquires and act as a catalyst for business growth with the use of online marketing.
With this being said, you’d think every business would have a website. According to a recent study, approximately 42% of small businesses don’t have a website. With the unprecedented opportunity the internet has created for business owners, you’d think every business would have one.
The Dilemma business owners face
If you’re a business owner, chances are you are always on the look out for ways to decrease your operating expenses. Unfortunately, one thing a lot of business owners decide to forgo is a professional website.
If you’ve ever been in contact with a web design agency, you’ll know first hand that quality web design doesn’t come cheap. This can be very off putting for those of us that just can’t justify spending thousands on a site. As a result, people consider it as a luxury item – something they’ll get when they have the some extra money.
In addition, a lot of people wonder if you even need a website. With social media and online directories such as Yellow Pages and Google My Business, it would seem the need for a website would be almost redundant.
What are the benefits of having a website?
There are several benefits a professional website will offer to your business, which include:
Increase Sales
A website is a great way to increase sales for your business. Approximately 92% of customers will research a local company using the internet. This makes it extremely important to have a strong online presence. A website can get your business found by potential customers that are using search engines to find products and services online.
This is a very cost-effective form of marketing for any business. In most cases, the increased sales you receive from your website will far exceed the money you’ve spend on the site. This makes it a very profitable option for any business.
Increased marketing opportunities
A website is the key ingredient to any online marketing campaign. One reason it is important to have a website is it will allow you to take advantage of online marketing in your business. From SEO, Google AdWords and Facebook retargeting; your marketing options significantly increase when you have a business website.
Compete in a global market
The internet is a great place to sell your products and services online. It has opened the boarders for trade and enabled small businesses to compete in global markets. If you wish to take advantage of this opportunity, you will need a website for your business.
To keep up with technological changes
One of the main reasons for business going broke is the failure to keep up with technological changes. Blockbuster video is a prime example of this; their failure to keep up with technological changes saw them get swallowed by Netflix and other online video streaming services.
Marketing is no where near as simple as it was 20 years ago. However, it is important not to turn a blind eye to technological changes. Doing so could be the biggest mistake you make.
Customer convenience
A website doesn’t just benefit the business owner, it benefits your customers too. It will provide a great deal of convenience to your customers, enabling the to conduct research about the products and services your business offer.
This has a benefit for you as well. Studies show that customers are three times more likely to purchase from or contact a business’ who have relevant and helpful information on their website.
In addition, businesses with robust information on their website decrease administration cost since customers can find answers to their questions online; instead of having to contact the business directly.
Around the clock availability
It seems like people are getting busier and busier. Your customers will often be researching your business in their spare time (outside office hours). One reason why a website is so important for businesses is it ensures people can contact you 24/7 at their convenience.
Do small businesses need a website? Why websites are important for small business
A question we get ask a lot is, why do small businesses need a website? There are countless reasons why websites are important for small business. The most common reason are as follows:
Get found locally
Small businesses generally operate to a local community. If you’re a small business owner, chances are a majority of your customers are people that live close by. Building a website for your small business will help local customers find you on search engines like Google and Bing.
More than 68% of people say they have purchased from a local business they have found on a search engine. Without a website, your business won’t get found in the search results. Google can provide a great source of website traffic and exposure to potential customers, which is why websites are important for small businesses.
Accommodate Offline Marketing & Word of Mouth
Another reason why websites are important for small business is because it accommodates offline marketing & word of mouth. Most small businesses rely on offline marketing and word of mouth to ensure there is a consistent flow of revenue for the business.
If a potential customer sees you advertising, or if they find you through word of mouth, then chances are they will look you up online before contacting your business. Even though your details can be found on social media or online directories, people these days expect more when they look you up online.
People want the ability to research your business in detail, they want to see work you’ve completed, information about your company and the services you offer, as well as the ability to purchase or make enquiries online. If they cant find this information about you when they look online, then there is a significantly higher chance they will look elsewhere. This in turn will cost you thousands over the years; which is why websites are incredibly important for small businesses.
Do I need a website if I have a Facebook page?
Another question we get asked a lot is ‘Do I need a website if I have a Facebook page?’. The short answer to this is ‘yes’. Facebook and other social media serve a different purpose than a website. If you’re one of those people that use social media to look up a business, than it can often seem like a website is redundant. However, not everyone does this. In fact, a majority of people will search your business through a search engine like Google and expect to be able to visit your website for more information.
