Why Your Business Needs a Website

By: Steve Cranshaw

As a business owner, you need to promote your business. Thankfully, there are several ways to make your business known and seen by your potential customers. From free social media platforms to paid advertising and marketing techniques, your business needs to take advantage of all of these tools. But without a website all these techniques could fall short of their ultimate potential. Read on to learn why your business needs a website and the expectation your customers have for your digital presence.

What is a Website?

Jeopardy Answer: A collection of web pages under a single domain created by a person or organization to inform a website visitor about a purpose, product or service. If this were an actual Jeopardy question it would be for $100 under the category “Things Every Business Should Have”. Don’t worry if your business does not have a website, or has a website that hasn’t been updated in months or even years! There are easy and cost effective ways to improve your web presence and your overall perception of your audience that we will touch upon shortly.

In summary: A website is a place for your audience to find out more about your business and all that you offer.

Why Does Your Business Need a Website?

Before we answer this question, let’s quickly address why your brand doesn’t need a website. (Insert cricket sounds here.) Since websites are a cost effective way to promote your business and the return on investment (ROI) of a website can pay for itself by simply landing a customer or two, there are no excuses for not having a website. Since websites offer flexibility and customizations for your countless needs, your website can serve your business today and be adapted to serve you decades later.

In summary: If you don’t have a website you face leaving your business in the past by failing to be present and compete in a space where your customers are looking for you.

Reason #1 - Your Customers Expect It

Set the scene. One of your best, most loyal customers is speaking to a friend or even a mere acquaintance. Your customer is asked for a recommendation and your business is quickly referred by your customer. The referee pulls out their iPhone punches in your company's name in a Google search and boom your company website shows up front and center. They tap on the link and pull up your well designed, directed and informative homepage. They are then onto your services or products page and see that you offer exactly what you are looking for. Next on their website journey is your About page where they see that your company is more than just an entity but has a voice and a tone that aligns with yours. Lastly they click over to your clear and concise Contact page where they fill out a form to schedule an appointment or request a service. Pretty ideal (and typical with a well designed and thoughtful website), right?

Now picture a company with no website in the same scenario. Maybe your business still gets found by your Google My Business listing, but there is no website for your potential customer to learn more about you or to further your ability to further interaction or even close a deal. Opportunities like this can be lost if your business lacks a website.

In summary: Meet your customers eagerness to learn more about your business by having a website - a professional, polished and frequently updated website.

Reason #2 - You Control Your Story

But you have a Facebook page and an Instagram account. You don’t need a website. (Baaahhhnttt - Wrong answer sound). Yes, social media accounts have their place and your business should have them, for sure. But it can be difficult at times to control your story and your brand messaging on these platforms.

Your website is where you have full control over how the public sees and perceives your business. This is where you, and only you, can fully tell (and adapt) your business’ story without worry of others adding their perspective and input.

In summary: Your website, your voice. Control the narrative, direct your customers, nurture the relationship and increase the chance of conversion.

Reason #3 - Always Accessible

Do you like taking phone calls from customers at 2:33 am? Probably not, right? Well, your website can “take these calls” for you with a simple Contact Form submission. Since your website is “open” 24/7, 365, it can increase your reach and streamline processes, lowering your need to touch the interaction from start to finish. This will make it easier for your business to be effective during and even outside the normal 9 to 5. (You’re a business owner though. What is a normal 9 to 5, amiright?)

In summary: Use your website to be there for your customers when you can’t always be there for them.

Reason #4 - It is More Cost Effective Than You Think

For less than a dollar a day you can design and host your own website. With several professional website builder platforms out there, there is no reason why your business shouldn’t have a website. These platforms provide you with beautiful templates, technical backend functionality and SEO capabilities, to name a few advantages. When combined with a domain name and custom email addresses (your business needs these), we are talking less than $300 a year to have your business seen by customers from up the street to around the world.

In summary: A website and necessary accompanying resources are affordable and should be included in every business plan and budget.

Not Quite Ready to Build Your Own Website? We are!

Now that you know you need to have a website, how it can serve your customers and what it can do to help simplify and facilitate your business, get out there and design your website! Oh yeah, that’s right. You’re not a website designer, developer or SEO specialist. That’s what we are here for! And the best part, the cost effective component is still part of the equation – even if we were to design your website for you. Want to learn more about our website plans and capabilities? Reach out now to learn more.