Why you need a website for your business?
Internet, the biggest invention of digital age, the indispensable part of our lives today; has somehow ensured that no business can survive without a website.
Every business – be it big or small, NEEDS a website!
They need a website for identity, for acquiring new business and for survival.
Let’s first understand what a website is?
Well! As per Wikipedia, “a website is a collection of related webpages, including multimedia content, typically identified with a common domain name, and published on at least one webserver.”
Now, this collection of webpages are pages filled with content about your business, it’s achievements and whatever you want to showcase.
Really, it’s a medium of telling the world (literally – the world, as internet is not geography bound) about what you do in the most positive, sugar quoted way.
Isn’t that wonderful?
Then, why wouldn’t any business have a website?
Well! The popular belief is that small businesses can do without a website. They can afford not to have an online presence because they are small.
However, in my opinion, having a website couldn’t be any less important for small businesses, rather it is more important for them, to be able to grow and survive in the long run.
So, why does a small business need a website?
A small business needs a website even more, because the reach needed to make a small business grow from small to big can be provided only by internet.
Gone are the days when word of mouth publicity was all it took to make a business successful.
And, even if you think you are doing quite well for yourself then also there are many reasons to have a website.
One of them being – the target audience shifting to internet.
As per a recent study, an average individual roughly spends 5 hours on internet daily in comparison to 2 hours (roughly) watching TV, and there are more than 3 billion users on internet today, which is more than 40% of world’s population.
And, it’s increasing every day.
Clearly, internet is the present and the future. So, every business (however small) must have a professionally designed and developed website to reach its maximum potential.
Benefits of having a website for small businesses
There are so many advantages of having a website. From creating an identity to reaching out to a targeted audience. Here are some important ones for small businesses-
- Information
In the most basic sense, a website is an online brochure, a catalogue of your product and services; informing prospective clients about your business and its offerings.
In fact, it is much easier, and hassle free compared to getting actual brochures and pamphlets printed. Plus, its long term and can be easily edited and updated. And you can have YouTube videos, eBooks, webinars, podcasts, and much more about your business on your website; which may be impossible to have in person.
(Source: https://atis.al/important-businesses-nowadays-website/)
- Credibility
A website not only gives information about your business on the world wide web, but also makes you credible. How? Well! By having a website, you are telling the world that you are here to stay, that you mean business and you are in it for a long haul.
More and more people nowadays look for things online, either to compare prices or to verify products or just look out for things. So, basically by not having a website you are creating a negative impression of being not so serious.
(Source: https://atis.al/important-businesses-nowadays-website/)
- Accessibility
Having a brick and mortar outlet is wonderful. However, it is not accessible for everyone around you. It’s just inconvenient for people who are busy (and believe me that’s almost everyone these days) and would rather go to your competitors just because they are more accessible.
Hence, get yourself a website for the sake of being accessible! A website will ensure 24X7 round the clock accessibility.
- Reach
There is no better example than Amazon or eBay here. Imagine! Could a brick and mortar store achieve what ecommerce stores are able to.
A website, an e-commerce store, ensures reach to a wider audience. A website is accessible to anyone who has internet from anywhere in the world. As of June 2017, 51% of the world’s population has internet access. So, having a website makes the whole globe your target segment.
Source: https://atis.al/important-businesses-nowadays-website/)
- Showcase
A website allows you to put your best foot forward. It’s like putting up a front, a costume designed and manufactured by you. Therefore, there is so much you can do on your website.
You can showcase best of your works and clients, have a portfolio to impress prospective customers. In fact, you can have an image gallery and integrate it with popular social media apps such as Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, etc.
- Communication
Isn’t communication key to everything? Be it a business or a relationship, communication is a two-way street that helps build trust.
A website is every small business’s opportunity to have a communication with its prospects. By writing a blog or feed and allowing your audience to comment or write on it, you are indulging in communication.
- Marketing
It goes without saying that a website is your most important marketing tool, in fact a weapon for advertising and marketing your business.
It allows you a dedicated space to promote your business 24X7. By getting yourself a professionally designed website, you are enabling a long-term marketing strategy for your business’s growth.
- Savings
If you are a small business, or someone just starting out, a website is a cost-effective marketing solution to begin with. It’s much cheaper than traditional forms of advertising by means of television, newspaper, billboards, etc.
Thus, a website can save you a lot of money in the long term, and not to mention savings in terms of time, as having a website will save you the hassle of answering a lot of questions through phone or in person.
- Customer Service
A website is definitely a means to creating a better customer service experience. By being all out with all your information and blogs and numbers, you are enabling your customer to reach you in no time.
And every business needs a fool-proof customer service system in place to sustain in the long run.
- More Business
Yes, a website means more business! More reach and more influence, hence more business. Now, who wouldn’t want that?
So, does having a website increase business?
More than anything! Having a website may increase your business many folds.
Coming to an important question – What does it take to build a business website?
Clearly, a website brings more power to any business. So, to begin with talk about your personality (which small businesses have in abundant), your USP (Unique selling proposition), your offerings, your contacts, your clients, encourages feedback and sprinkles it with some multimedia.
All in all, keep it simple with an easy to use interface; yet somewhat attractive.
It really does take a vision to create a successful website (and of course a specialized web design company)
I insist on hiring the specialists because, even though the internet is full of tutorials about making a DIY website on your own, it takes experience and sound knowledge in the subject to make an effective website, which is able to capture the essence and mission of your business with proficiency.
The cost of getting a professional web design service varies on your business’s needs, however, a professional website is always worth it. Look at it as an investment with long term returns.
Businesses have benefited immensely from having websites and I do not write this without facts and figures. Although, It is impossible to ascertain an exact number of small businesses with websites (the number is huge), there is this recent survey by Clutch, a Washington, DC- based business-to-business research firm claiming 71% of small businesses have a website as of 2017, and the number is expected to go much higher by the end of 2018.
Clearly, American small businesses are realizing the importance of having a ‘website’.
Importance of having a business website in Florida
As stated above, most American small businesses are either getting themselves a website or thinking about it. So why should Florida be any different?
Small businesses in Florida need as much web presence as any other business across the country, simply because Americans expect it. They expect a business to have a web presence, for they relate a website with credibility among other things.
Also, because many small business in Florida are targeting tourists vising Florida Keys. It is not only important to inform them about your business but get on top of the google listings, which is only possible with a professionally designed up to date website.
And its not only google where you will get a benefit because of a website, business specific directories such as yelp, or classified websites such as Craigslist, or job portal like Monster – they all need your internet presence in the form of a website.
Your job postings get you a better response, your classified ads get you a better ROI, and your business listings get you better leads, all with an optimized website.
Hence, not having a website is out of question.
So, go get your business one from the most trusted web design company in Florida www.lynkemarketing.com.