8 Tips For Why Do I Need A Website For My Small Business You Can Use Today
Now you can have a website for almost anything – from crowdfunding campaigns to hamster fan sites. For some reason, 30-40% of small businesses are slow to connect to the internet. What is going on over there?
In surveys, many business owners said they didn’t have the skills, time, or money to build a website. But a surprising number said they simply didn’t need a website, either because they didn’t, or because they used social media.
However, that idea is changing rapidly, especially as the coronavirus hinders personal business.
We’ve put together some specific reasons why your small business should have its website. If you have a small business that’s still underdeveloped, read on!
- Customers now expect the company to have a website
- You can control information and branding
- The website makes you appear more reputable and reliable
- You can sell products online
- Websites are more accessible than traditional advertisements
- The website is easier to update
- You can find new local customers in your area
- Does my business need a website when I use social media?
- Conclusion: Every company needs a website
Customers now expect the company to have a website
More than ever, customers want information about you on your company’s website. Most consumers do their research online before making a purchase, even though they need to buy something from their local store. If you don’t have a website, it sends the message that your business is in the dark ages, that you are no longer open, or that you are not interested in finding new customers – and this is certainly not the message I want to send!
You can control information and branding
User ratings and comments on other websites are great, but shouldn’t you have the final say on how your business is presented to the public? Having a website for your business creates a formal online presence in an instant so you don’t have to rely on other people to speak for you. And you can make it look exactly how you want it with your logo and branding.
The website makes you appear more reputable and reliable
Consumers learn to be smart enough to do online research. 75% rate your trust based on your website design. This is why it’s so important to have a modern and up-to-date website with a custom domain and other credentials. The website also shows that you are open to times of great uncertainty.
You can sell products online
Online sales surged even before COVID-19 kept others at home. And this trend is expected to continue once the store is opened to customers. Even if you don’t think of yourself as an e-commerce business, you can still use online stores to help your offline business.
This can help you increase your revenue when you close directly and attract new customers who can now find your services and products through Google and other search engines.
And if you don’t want to deal with delivery issues, you can use local pick-up options so customers can buy your product online and pick it up on the curb or in person.
Websites are more accessible than traditional advertisements
Many small businesses that don’t have a website still rely on yellow page ads or traditional ads to make their brand famous. However, buying ads in shrinking and increasingly expensive directories is the best way to use your resources, especially if you are trying to cut the costs of doing business. Websites are much cheaper than in the past and give you a wider reach than regular advertising.
The website is easier to update
If you tried starting a website years ago, you probably have bad memories of that experience. It might take the developer weeks to create and then you can’t make any changes yourself. Simple things like updating store hours can take a long time, making your information outdated.
It makes no difference today. All you have to do is go to your website dashboard and click on the section you want to change. You can edit text, add photos, or change parts of your design. If you are using Business Ads, you can update the information on your website once and it will be updated automatically on several listing platforms like Facebook, Google and others.
You can find new local customers in your area
A website is not only used to find customers around the world but is also an important tool for attracting local customers. A lot of Google searches have people looking for something right next to it. This is especially true for cell phone users looking for shops, restaurants, or other services while on the move. If you don’t have a mobile site, you are missing out on these opportunities to get these visitors while they are around you.
Does my business need a website when I use social media?
Maybe you already have a Facebook page and some pretty good social media reviews. Many business owners find that having a social media profile is sufficient for their business.
However, there are several problems with this strategy. First, it always depends on the social media platform you choose. Algorithms change, rules change, and what works one day may not work within a few weeks (as many companies that rely on Facebook have learned recently).
If you have a website, it’s yours and you control its content and messages. Trends are changing too. If your subscribers are on Instagram today, they might be on the new platform tomorrow. As users move from one tool to the next, your website acts as an anchor. Regardless of what social media subscribers like, they can always find your website in the same place that is accessible to everyone.
Conclusion: Every company needs a website
The argument for websites in today’s world is very strong. Nearly all of the companies surveyed said they would have a website by the end of the year. Are you part of this group? Make it happen by signing up for Jimdo’s free website today and seeing how easy it is!