It’s the year 2021 and by now every business should have its own website. It does not matter what industry you are in nor how large or small your business is. Every business should be able to be found through a quick google search.
Some business owners may think that they have made it this far without having a website and things seem to be going well but there has never been a more important time than now to have an online presence. Moxtra’s Small Business Digital Resilience Report found these statistics:
According to the report, in 2020, there was a 30% increase in consumers who said digital capabilities are a primary requirement when searching for a small service provider.
Also, 66% of respondents said the pandemic has made them more likely to use small businesses in the future.
Additionally, 84% of small business customers said they would consider seeking an alternative provider if digital capabilities were lacking.
While this is not the end of brick and mortar, having an online presence is important and provides many benefits for your business that will only help you grow in the future. Here are some of the benefits your business will receive from having even the simplest of websites.
1) Customers expect it
The world has increasingly become more digital and consumers are more likely to find a business online than to find them out and about in the world. Consumers are also likely to search for your business online and check your information and reputation before deciding to give you their business. Even if you do not sell any products online, a website makes you visible for customers to easily find your psychical location and products/services you offer.
In today’s age, a business without a website is usually questioned by customers. People may assume, you went out of business or that you are stuck in the dark ages. Consumers are going to do their research on a business before spending their money. When they do come searching for you, a nice, informative website should pop up.
2) A website makes you look professional
Having a website that looks professional and clearly communicates important business information to customers is crucial and is a great way to stand out from competitors.
While your website does not have to be overtly professional looking, the overall theme of your website will play a role in how customers perceive your business. In other words, if your website looks like it has not been updated since 2003 and provides customers with barely any up-to-date information, it’s not likely they will give your business a second thought. In fact, 75% of people have judged a company’s credibility based on its website design. That’s why you need to have a modern looking, up-to-date website to make sure potential customers know you are still in business and are a professional.
3) A showcase for your products/services and best reviews
You can utilize your website to showcase your products and services available at your physical location and let customers know the quality of service they will be receiving when they visit. You can establish your brand’s identity, story and core values which will enhance the probability of customers interacting with your business. Therefore, you want to be easily found with quality information to offer prospective customers and hopefully a few great reviews online to show off!
4) It streamlines customer service
A website will make it much easier for customers to find all of your contact info to get in touch with you for any questions or comments they may have. You can set up an FAQ page to answer some of the questions you already get asked the most. And if you want to get a bit more advanced you can set up chat bots, to answer the simple questions customers may have when visiting your website.
A website will also give you the chance to promote your social media and build mailing lists that you can use to keep your existing customers up to date on new offerings, products or business updates to ensure they are in the know.
5) Keep up with the competition
You are alone in the market. There are plenty of other businesses in your area that are probably offering the same if not very similar products or services that you are. If you do not have a website, your competitors already have a leg up on you when it comes to the digital space. They are being found by customers searching online for the exact product or service you both offer. The thing is, your business is nowhere to be found when the customers are searching.
6) Benefit from Google’s platform
In 2020 Google controlled 90% of the market share for search engines, dominating competitors such as Bing, Yahoo, and DuckDuckGo. Google is providing customers with exactly what they need when they search and have built a great reputation as the most trusted search engine.
So, when a customer comes looking for your business through Google, it would be best if you were easily found. If your business is listed on google not only will your website show up but so will your contact info, hours of operation, location and online reviews if you have any. A potential customer can obtain all this information with a quick search that could take all of 10 seconds of time.
A google search is not just used for finding big nationwide brands like Walmart or Amazon. Many people that search on google are looking for things locally. This is especially true of mobile phone users who might be looking for a store, restaurant, or other service while they’re on-the-go. So also make sure your website is mobile friendly that it can be easily navigated on a smaller screen. Focusing on Local SEO will help bring your ranking up on Google’s listings when a customer makes a search like “best restaurants near me” or “local barbershop”. This is a great way to attract new local customers.
7) Control the narrative and branding
A website gives you the opportunity to tell your business’ story to your customers. By clearly establishing who you are, what you represent and what you stand for, you increase the chances of your customers buying from you. Customers are more enticed to do business with a brand that they connect with. Your story and the principles and values that your business holds are important and your website is the place where you can display them for all to see.
Think of your website as a way to deliver your brands message 24hours a day 365 days a year. A customer can find your website at any time of the day and find specific details about your practices and offerings. Whether it is an e-commerce site or a professional one offering information about in-store products or services, having a website is expected by most consumers.
Websites have become essential to business today, and you are leaving a lot of opportunities on the table if you don’t have one. Your website does not need to be immaculate to begin, it can definitely improve over time as your business grows. If you are interested in getting started on building a website or updating your current one, feel free to contact us here.