If you run a small business, it’s likely that you’re thinking about the ways in which technology can benefit your company. You’ve probably heard about how important it is to have an online presence and be active on social media. But what about creating a website for your business? While some people may think that this isn’t necessary for smaller companies, that couldn’t be further from the truth! Here are five reasons why your business needs a website.
Reason 1: Visibility
It’s important to make it easy for potential customers to find you. Research found that 81% of potential customers choose to research a business online before making a purchase, with 55% searching for online reviews and 47% searching for the business’ website (Zippa). Having a website means when people search for your services, your name will show up on Google, Bing, and Yahoo.
After all, if you live in an area where there are many businesses offering similar services as yours, then it’s important for potential customers to be able to find your website so that they can learn more about what makes working with you different from other businesses offering the same thing.
It’s also important for potential clients of yours to know who they’re dealing with before they make a decision on whether or not it’s worth hiring you or another company like yours. Your website will help them make this decision by giving them access 24/7 without having to worry about making an appointment first (which most people aren’t going to do).
Reason 2: Lead Generation
A website is a great way to generate leads, especially if you’re looking to scale your business and grow your customer base. With a website, customers can easily find out more about you as a company, check out the products and services you offer, request a quote, or even book an appointment with them by filling in a contact form on your site. You can also use this opportunity to showcase testimonials from previous clients to show potential prospects what they can expect when working with you.
Reason 3: Affordability & ROI
You can build a website for as little as $100. That’s right, you can get started with your online presence for the price of a few packs of beer. That means you likely only need to get 1-2 customers from your website to pay it off.
There are so many ways in which you can build websites these days, and the best part about it is that it doesn’t require any technical knowledge or coding skills – all you need to do is choose a design template and customize it however you want! You’ll then need to upload content (your own blog posts or photos) onto your blog’s homepage or custom pages. Squarespace and Wix are two affordable ways to DIY your website.
Once that’s done, all that’s left for you to do is set up some basic SEO (search engine optimization) on Google so people can easily find you when they search for certain keywords related to the industry/niche of your business (such as “lawn care” or “landscaping services”).
Best Sites to Create an Affordable Website | |
Wix.com | $16 / Month |
Squarespace.com | $16 / Month |
Jimdo.com | $9 / Month |
Reason 4: 24/7 Promotion
Having a website is not just about making it easier for people to find you and learn about what you do, but also about letting your website work for you around the clock. Once people land on your website, it’s important that they can easily reach out to you via live chat or email if they have questions or want to request a quote. This can be difficult if your business is closed in the evenings or on weekends.
To combat this problem, many businesses use automation services like Chatbots, which can respond automatically when customers reach out at specific times during the day (such as when a customer asks “when are you available to look at my property and create an estimate?”).
Reason 5: Credibility
A website is a great way to build credibility, especially if you’re new to the business world. Customers can see that you are a real business and not some fly-by-night operation: it adds to your professionalism and increases the likelihood a potential customer will choose you over your competitors. You can use your website to demonstrate your expertise or share customer testimonials. 72% of consumers trust businesses more if they read positive testimonials about those businesses (Digital Strike). If they want more information about what you do or how much it will cost them, then there’s an easy way for them to find out!
The bottom line is that you need a website to promote your services, generate leads, build credibility and allow customers to get to know you online. It’s also an affordable tool for small businesses – so why miss out on the advantages a website can provide? In today’s digital world, there is no excuse for not having one!
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