This is the first in a series of articles designed to help business owners get the best out of having a new business website. And for those who don’t have a website – why they need one.
If you’re reading this it means at least 2 things:
- You use the Internet.
- You’re interested in why having a website is good for your business.
Read on to find 5 solid reasons why you, as a business owner, need a business website.
1. To be found online
The days of yellow pages are long gone. Today if someone wants to find a plumber, a bookkeeper, a photographer … in fact anything; they are probably going to use their computer or smartphone to search online.
A whopping 76% of UK consumers claim they do research online before making a purchase. And 97% searched online to find a local business.
For some products, the number of people who search online is much higher, for example, electronics (95%) and home improvements (86%). The situation is much the same in the US, where one study reported that 63% of consumers went online to find a local business.
Almost certainly, you do the same yourself.
Simply having a website doesn’t guarantee you’ll be found but, if you don’t have one, then potential customers will certainly find someone who has.
2. To market your business
Your website provides customers with an easy way to learn more about your business, its products and services as well as how to contact you. Unlike other forms of marketing, it is accessible 24/7/365.
Having your own website gives you full control over the way your brand is portrayed. By brand, I mean what specifically your business represents: your values, your products, your customer services – you.
If someone sees your logo and recognises it – you have a brand. Think of red cans – immediately Coca Cola comes to mind. That’s a successful brand.
Your website should be the mainstay of your marketing. It’s an incredible tool to project exactly the information you want potential customers to know. Not only about your products and services but also your best projects, your happiest customers, any special promotions and helpful information.
On top of that, they can send you their contact details at any time of the day or night.
As they explore your site you can gain insight into their location, demographics and behaviour. With this information, you can tailor the pages to appeal to the right target audience.
3. To sell more
Despite the doom and gloom in the press, brick and mortar retailers are still needed. Studies have shown that although two-thirds of shoppers do research before buying online, over 41% of people do research online but then go into a shop to buy. This phenomenon is called ‘webrooming.
The number of people ‘webrooming’ depends to a great extent on the age of the shopper and what they’re looking for. It will be no surprise that Millennials are top ‘webroomers’, or that electronics is among the subjects most researched before a visit to a store.
‘Webrooming’ is an excellent way of boosting your profits by snagging visitors’ attention and drawing them to your shop via your website.
At the same time, e-commerce is hugely profitable for small businesses, with or without a shopfront. A website running WooCommerce will give a small business a full online shop, with image-rich product pages, secure payment facility, stock management and much more – for free!
4. To take control
Perhaps you’ve relied on social media, such as a Facebook page, for your online presence.
Facebook is still a force to be reckoned with. But its power is waning. The number of users continues to decline month on month – by as much as 40% according to some reports. Due to ongoing lack of trust regarding data security, large businesses and advertisers are questioning the wisdom of continuing their reliance on this social media giant.
Facebook has also recently changed its algorithms, which means business page posts are now ranked lower than news feeds. The reason is simple: Facebook wants chatty news that circulates quickly among friends to create engagement. Businesses and their updates don’t do that.
Algorithms change, rules change, and what’s working one day might not work a few weeks from now (as many businesses who depended on Facebook have recently learned). If you own a website it’s yours and you are in control.
5. To give your business credibility
Last but not least, for many businesses, having a website provides their customers with a basis of trust. If it can be found online potential customers will be reassured your business is ‘real’.
Research also shows that if someone can’t find you online, they are likely to think your business has closed.
Ask yourself, would you choose a key supplier for your business if they didn’t have a website. Probably not. And your customers are no different. Studies show that 30% of consumers won’t consider a business without a website. Don’t be one of those businesses.
With your website you can build customer confidence in your expertise, perhaps displaying reviews and testimonials to show you have a happy customer base. You can write about your business history, highlighting why you are the best in your niche. And images of your past successes really can be worth a 1,000 words.
Summary
If you’re still one of the more than 2 million small and medium-sized businesses in the UK that don’t have a website, you’re missing out. Every day millions of people search online for services and products. Without a website, your business is invisible.
The good news is that simply by having a website, you jump ahead of the nearly 30% of businesses who don’t. And if your website is well-designed, you can be sure of greater visibility and the likelihood of getting more clients.
Is design that important? Yes. A study revealed 75% of consumers admit to making judgments on a company’s credibility based on the company’s website design. With many websites now old and out of date, the opportunity for you to promote your business has never been better.
Remember, your website is an attractive salesperson that never sleeps and is always open for visitors.
Follow this series to see how easy it is to own and gain the many benefits of having a website.
Maven Webs has over a decade of expertise in building websites. Contact us today to learn how we can help your business take full advantage of a website.