Why You Need Website?
In the last few years, there has been an active push for consumers to “shop local” and support small businesses, and that is largely made possible through the Internet. Being able to have an online storefront and market to customers outside your geographic area is a huge opportunity for many entrepreneurs to grow their businesses.
For all of these reasons, it is important that every small business has a website.
Having a strong online presence can truly be a make or break for any business. We’ve asked small business leaders how important having a website is to them and what opportunities it has created for their organizations. Keep reading to learn how a website can take your business to the next level!
It’s the Welcome Mat
The website is the gateway, door, and welcome mat of a business. It should educate the consumer as well as elicit emotion. It is the very first impression that will be made on the consumer and can determine with certainty whether or not the consumer will continue engagement.
It Shows You Actually Exists
A small business needs a website to drive business in today’s digital world. Without a website, you give up much, if not most, of your potential business because consumers will not be able to learn anything about you or your business’s offerings. If not for anything else, a website will show your audience that you really do exist.
It Shows Potential Clients If Your Business Is the Right Fit
A small business needs to have a platform that accurately represents who they are and why people should buy their products or use their services. When potential customers are searching for a product or service, you want your website available for them to click on. You want them to see a clean functional website that makes you feel like your business is the right choice for them. A website represents your brand in the digital space and without it, it would be difficult to have a strong online brand presence.
People Need to Find You on Google
In today’s digital world, people turn to Google to find practically anything and everything, from answers to questions to products and services near them. Search engines play an important role in the online success of businesses. Without a website, potential customers cannot find you in their searches. Creating a central location to store your address, your phone number, a contact form, a product/ service list, prices, etc. will open the door for people to find your business online.
Your Own Domain Name Increases Credibility
Having a website gives your small business legitimacy. When someone is searching for your product or service online, you want to appear in those search results. Additionally, having your own domain name (company.com) gives your email address additional legitimacy — if you’re sending an email from a personal email, potential customers may not take you as seriously.
Additionally, every small business needs a website and social media as well. I advise the entrepreneurs I work with to focus on their “core 4” social media channels: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Once you have launched your website, you can cross-promote it by sharing it on social media as well.
