“Do I really need a website?”
This is a question I hear all the time, from new business owners and experienced owners alike. The answer, of course, is YES. And I will add that having an outdated, poorly functioning website or one that is not mobile-friendly is just as bad, if not worse, than not having one at all.
Consumer behavior is always evolving and businesses must adapt to keep up. Not so long ago finding a business involved flipping through the Yellow Pages. Now that thick telephone book has been replaced by the internet and search engines. According to Statista over a third of consumers look online for local businesses DAILY and 70% do so at least once per month.
This post talks about the top reasons why your business needs a website in 2020 regardless of the industry you are in.
1) Your customers expect it.
Whether we like it or not, technology is becoming a part of everything we do. Almost everyone is at least a little bit tech-savvy now and they expect businesses to meet them where they are at – and they are online.
2) It is your personal proof.
Having a social media presence is important, as are rankings on Yelp and Google. However, these things aren’t very personal – aside from the logo and header image all Facebook pages look alike and the same goes for all the other places you may already exist. Your website is your home on the web and can be a true representation of yourself and customers love authenticity. Your website will show them who you really are.
3) Control the narrative
You can’t control the reviews or comments you get on the social media or review websites. Your website is your domain and you can use it to establish your true identity. Google receives over 63,000 searches per second! Some of those are potential customers, so make sure there is a place they can find accurate and up-to-date information about your business.
4) Increase your availability
Your website is always open unlike most businesses. Creating a business website is a small cost for the added benefit of being always available to your customers, and certain businesses may be able to expand even further and make sales online.
5) Compete with huge brands
Did you know that having a website gives you a chance to compete with your biggest competitors? When an optimized website is created, it can rank higher and be at the right place at the right time. Bidding for the right keywords can increase your website traffic and influence your consumer’s journey, which typically begins with research, recommendations, and reviews. Having a prominent position in the search results page is one of the many ways to challenge your industry Goliaths. Therefore, if you don’t dominate the Internet, you are giving your customers a reason to buy from the competition.
There are certainly may other reasons but we’ll stop there for now. Hopefully I have convinced you that having a quality website will cost pennies compared to the return it will create. If you’re ready to get started contact us now.
