We understand why you might resist building a website for your business: “I don’t have the time”, “they’re too expensive”, “I’m not tech-savvy” or maybe even “I have enough business and I don’t need one”.
In 2019, retail e-commerce sales worldwide amounted to 3.53 trillion US dollars, and the reality is, no website, no online store. Don’t you want to be a part of that? Getting a professional website for your business can be affordable and easy, not having a website is costing you time & money (in lost sales). So here are 10 reasons why your business needs a website.
1. Your customers expect it
People expect you to have a website and when you don’t they question whether or not you’re a legitimate business. Having a website also gives you instant legitimacy. The next thing you need to make sure is that it’s a nice clean website that accurately reflects your business. Read this list that customers say they want from a business website.
2. A website makes you look professional
Having a website gives your business instant credibility, and it’s not just us saying that 56% of people stated that they won’t trust a business without a website. In the age of the internet, people expect you to have a website, so when you don’t they question if you’re a legitimate business.
3. It provides social proof
Ninety percent of consumers claim that online reviews influence their buying decisions. So don’t just rely on Google, Yelp, and other review sites to host reviews for your business. Make sure your best reviews and testimonials are on your website in a prominent position so a potential buyer can see how pleased other people are with your product or service. If your business has appeared in the media in newspapers or popular local blogs, you can also feature those too.
4. Your competition has a website
Studies show that once a consumer has a problem to solve e.g. blocked kitchen sink they start researching online “Plummer near me”, and 72 percent of them go online to find businesses, reviews, testimonials and educational material, according to this report. So if you’re not online you’re not competitive giving shoppers a reason to buy from another business.
5. People are searching online
Google handles close to 7 billion searches on average per day, with the average user conducting between 3 and 4 Google searches per day. So that means right now, there’s someone in your area online with the “near me” tag looking for your exact service. Guess who’s getting their business? Not you.
By having a website searchable by Google (SEO) your website can attract new customers as you show up in Google search results. 93% of online experiences begin with a search engine and 72% of consumers who perform a local search visit a store within 5 miles of their current location.
6. Showcase your products or services
Your website is the place showcase yourself in the best possible light, showing why your product or service is the one for them. If they don’t know what you offer or how it can benefit them they won’t even consider you as an option. You miss 100% of the chances you don’t take and by not having a website you’re missing all those chances for new customers. Why? Because consumer are savvy arming themselves with information, researching a brand or business extensively before making the commitment to buy.
7. Social media reach is diminishing
Social media is great but you are at the mercy of an algorithm that could change at any time. Not only that organic reach is falling because its increasingly becoming “pay to play” and if you don’t pay you don’t see the results. So you don’t want to be at the mercy of a social media platform like Facebook or Instagram for all your business. A website means your business has a home online and you have control.
8. More bang for your buck
A business website can cost very little to maintain with domain name registration starting from $10 per year and website hosting from $50 per year (depending on your provider). A website is a better return on investment than any other form of advertising channel in most cases. Think of it like this, your website is a 24-hour salesperson acting as an “always-on” business rep in and out office hours. It’s available when you’re not, providing information, images, testimonials showcasing your skills in a way you want.
9. Attract more customers
Simply put, if you’re not online you’re missing out on potential new customers and sales. 53% of shoppers say they always do research before they buy to ensure they’re making the best choice before purchasing. So if you don’t have a website, you’ve no chance of capturing a share of this market.
10. Not as hard, or as expensive, as you think.
Good news for you it’s not as hard, or as expensive, as you think to get up and running with a website. You don’t need to be tech-savvy to get a website, sites like WIX or Squarespace and WordPress offer solutions to help you create your very own website at varies levels (more on the benefits of each platform later). Plus, it’s a legitimate business expense and a tax write off.
