Yes your small business needs a website.
Website’s are no longer a luxury for small business, they are an absolute necessity.
Most small business owners have concluded that a website is a requirement (probably the same curve that led small businesses to all acquire a telephone a century ago), nearly one-third of small businesses are still without a website. Some of the reasons; they don’t have the money, The skills or the time to build a business website.
Many state they don’t require a business website because they don’t sell a product or they use social media instead. However if your business has just a few services or products, a simple website is all you need. Your business website will work as your online business card. Visitors will come, look at your products and services, find out a bit about who you are and take action. I can help you with a small business website.
Let’s look at some reasons why your small business should have it’s own website.
Why have a website?
A professional website meets customer expectations:
Have you as a customer gone online seeking to find a company that has products and services you want to use? Is online where you first search before you make a purchase? Here are some results do research online before they make a purchase.
What do you think when you search and don’t find that business website? What messages are you thinking? That the business is not interested in finding new cusomters or that the business no longer exists?
A website doesn’t have to be complicated, expensive or timely to maintain. Your business website needs to communicate who you are and what you do, just a few simple pages. What is important is that it is accurate and up-to-date. According to this article top pet peeves people are peeved when it comes to using local business websites.
Your business website acts as the hub for your marketing and allows you to connect with people from social media, email marketing, search engines or other promotions.
“Your website is the single most important communication channel to potential customers, even if your business does not transact online.” – Ruslan Kogan, Startup Smart
You can control information and branding:
Today people are quick to leave a review and comments, you need an opportunity to have the final say about what information about your company is being presented to the public, not relying on Google or Facebook reviews. Having a business website creates an online presence so you don’t have to depend on others speaking for you whether good or bad. You can make it look exactly the way you want, with your own logo, colors, and fonts.
You can find existing and potential customers:
Not only are existing and potential customers able to see your website, but they can also interact with you, make a purchase, book a servic and much more. By using email, contact forms, skype, chat apps, you can talk with customers worldwide, and get feedback about your new products and services. People can come to your website from all different places, using search engines or Google Maps.
A website is more affordable than traditional advertising:
It is true, many businesses only rely on Yellow Pages to get the word out. This can be quite costly over time and gets lost in the ever-shrinking and expensive directory. Websites costs are decreasing and has a wider reach. Your business is yours, you own it, so you can update up and communicate with as many words and pictures as you want without the extra costs. Have you every searched on Yellow Pages and tried calling that business to find out that they no longer exist or have changed address and as they don’t have a website you then take your business elsewhere are you can’t connect with them.
A website is easier to keep up to date:
Years ago if you had a website, evertime you wanted to make a change it would cost you a lot of $ and time as you would have had to used a developer. I remember my first one I had built and it took so much time and $ and that was what prompted me to learn how to build websites.
Today it is so different. With wordpress you log into your website and you can edit text, add images, change details and I am always here to help.
A business website levels the playing field:
What does this mean? Regardless of budget and the project at hand there is very little difference between your business website and that of a Fortune 500 Company. It doesn’t matter if your business has 2 employees or a team of 500, if you are meeting the needs of your customers, then a clean and professional looking website completly levels the playing field.
Does my business need a website if I’m on social media?
If you are a business owner and have a social media profile well done. That is a great start. Having a social media profile though is not enough for your business. I’m sure you are aware that social media is owned by others and that it is constantly changing.
I totally believe in making using of social media platforms, however you need to be aware that there are rules and regulations about what you can post, say, when and what time of images you wish to use. They can at any point of time go out of business and you will lose all your content and work. They also change the rules so what works one day may not another day. Don’t get me wrong they are a great platform to share content from your website to, but I wouldn’t only rely on social media for your business.
You will never own your content on a social media platform, but you do own your website. The platform that holds your images and words is the long term winner as they increase their own platforms and moneterize it. When you have your own website, you are in control and are rowing your own boat.
Your website is yours, trends come and go, social media platforms can change and people’s preferences change, so whilst someone uses Twitter today and Snap Chat tomorrow they will always find your website in the same place.
Conclusion: every business needs a website
I can build your business website so you have an online presence simply and affordable. Based on the WordPress content management system, your website is fully scalable and capable of growing with your business.
What’s included?
Business Website Package
- Your website address (www.mybusiness.com.au)
- Your new business email address (me@mybusiness.com.au)
- A contact management / email marketing system setup and integrated
- 12 months website hosting
- SSL certificate
- Landing page with call to action and email collection
