Having a website is important for small businesses for many different reasons. From building credibility with customers to capturing leads and web visitors, your website should be an accurate representation of your company. And even more than just that, it should be a powerful money making machine that brings you leads and new customers.
Most websites are lost online and do nothing for business owners. Why is this so, you might wonder? Many business owners ask the same questions. Can my website make money and how can I be found on Google are common things that are asked very frequently.
However, the answer isn’t as simple as just improving the design of the site. The problem is that a lot of web designers need to learn more about digital marketing.
Here are 12 Reasons Your Website Is Important For Your Small Business
1. Answer Important Questions
2. Communicate Your Brand’s Values
3. Capture Leads
4. Increase Trust
5. Increase Exposure
6. Funnel Visitors
7. Make A Purchase
8. Show You Exist!
9. 24 Hour Advertising
10. Describe Services
11. Brand Credibility
12. Show People Your Nap
Now, let’s talk about the importance of a website for your business
Increased visibility
The vast majority of consumers research a company online before purchasing. They utilise the internet to discover local businesses, the best deals, to shop from the comfort of their own home, and ultimately decide whether a business is worthy of their hard-earned money. Allowing your business to be seen across a variety of mediums in a busy marketplace is of the utmost importance. After all, if they can’t find you, they can’t buy from you.
Credibility
Having a website that is skilfully built according to your target market’s needs will stand you in good stead with your audience. With a wealth of businesses to choose from at their fingertips, it’s important to show that yours is one to be trusted and that they’ll receive a seamless, professional experience.
A website can show off your best customer testimonials, displaying your business in its very best light. It can provide sneak peeks behind-the-scenes of the staff, strengthening a ‘know, like and trust’ factor, which can increase conversions and longstanding relationships. It demonstrates that you take your business seriously, having invested time, money, and energy into the development and maintenance of it, which will translate as “we care”. If you haven’t invested in your audience’s experience, the likelihood is that they won’t invest in your business.
It strengthens your social media marketing
Social media sites reach and engage with your audience, providing them with ‘real-time’ value. By showing up consistently on social media, it shows a commitment to your business, whilst showcasing your skills, knowledge, and personality. It also serves a space to build an active community.
Whilst this activity is happening, a website serves as a place to send your audience to when they want to find out more.
It’s the permanent home of your marketing content
Social media is a great place to share content, but it gets pushed further and further down your timeline with every new post. Periodically reposting important content is highly recommended, but again, it quickly disappears from view and isn’t always readily available for your audience.
Your website can clearly display all of your blog posts and important articles, allowing it to be found with little to no effort. If your audience has to work too hard to find out who you are, what you offer, and why they should choose you, they might just go to a business that makes their journey a much easier one (even if their offerings aren’t as good as yours).
It sets you apart from your competition
Your website is your opportunity to tell the world what makes you different from those who offer similar products or services. It’s not always what you do, it’s how you show the world what you do.
Email marketing talks to them, your website closes them
Email marketing is an effective way to talk directly to your audience at a time that suits them best. You can post all day, every day on social media, but only a small percentage of people see your content in real-time unless they frequently interact with your channel in the way of likes, reposts, shares, comments, and so on.
When somebody signs up for your email newsletter, they are communicating that they want to hear what you have to say, and this is your opportunity to engage, entertain, and provide lots of value. They can open your content when they have time to fully absorb it and it can assist in building a loyal following. When you have a special offer or an important piece of information you’d like your audience to know, you can deliver it straight to their inbox, ready to be consumed.
Your website is where you’ll send your engaged audience to, driving them closer toward making a purchase.
It increases your availability to make sales.
A website allows you to sell your products and services 24/7/365, reaching an international audience. Long gone are the days when you’re limited by your geographic location. Nowadays, the world is your oyster and the opportunity to transcend borders is easier than ever.
