Your small business is your source of income and livelihood, but that doesn’t mean that you’re any less busy than a large company. There’s just as much on your plate, such as customer service, promoting your brand, and handling day-to-day tasks.
However, despite the hard work and time it takes to run a small business, many entrepreneurs still don’t have their websites. If you’re thinking about establishing a website for your small business, here are seven reasons why you should start today.
1. It’s your digital storefront.
More and more consumers are turning to their computers and mobile devices to research products and services before purchasing.
They’re looking for information in reviews, product specifications, and service details. And if you don’t have a website with this information available, you’re losing these customers to competitors who do.
2. A website helps build your brand.
A website is your opportunity to tell your story and let customers get to know you. You can explain how you got started and what makes your products or services different from others. And with a website, you’ll also be able to help reduce customer objections or questions that might arise later.
3. More people have access to your website.
It’s obvious. A small business may only be able to serve customers who live in its area, but a website can reach customers around the world. Imagine if your small business could tap into international markets and expand its customer base. That’s not just more sales — that helps create more jobs locally.
And a professionally designed website will provide an engaging user experience with an emphasis on creating conversions (visitors turning into buyers). Also, your potential audience is constantly growing because your site can be accessed anywhere, 24 hours a day. Plus, having a responsive design ensures that your message is consistent across all platforms, from desktop computers and laptops to smartphones and tablets.
4. A website lets you present a professional image.
This is probably one of the most important reasons for creating a website for your small business. Your site becomes the virtual equivalent of your storefront and office location, helping to project the kind of image you want people to associate with your company.
And as we all know, the internet is the most powerful marketing tool ever created. Even the smallest company can leverage the power of the web to get their name out and generate sales. But you have to start somewhere. You need an online presence. And that means you need to create a website.
5. Your website puts you in control of your messaging.
Another reason is when you have a website, you can control exactly what potential customers see when they visit your site.
You can craft the perfect pitch to sell your products or services and make sure that important information like hours or pricing is easy to find. And if you’re like any other business owner, there’s probably a lot more to your story than what can fit in a 30-second elevator pitch. With a website, you have the space to show off your capabilities and accomplishments and build trust with potential customers.
After all, a website is also about more than just making sales. It’s also about building long-term relationships with potential customers who will hopefully come back to buy from you again and again.
6. Build trust with prospects and customers.
As mentioned above, people expect you to have a website, so if you don’t have one, they may wonder if your business is legitimate. There are horror stories on the internet about companies that aren’t what they appear to be. A website can help build your credibility and give customers peace of mind that they won’t lose their money.
A website will also help you build trust with prospects by providing them with the information they need to make informed decisions about your products or services. You can include testimonials from satisfied customers or case studies that show how your business solved problems for others like them. You can even have videos or infographics to increase engagement and enhance the experience for your visitors.
7. A website can boost your revenue and lower costs.
Lastly, having an online presence will save money on marketing and advertising activities that would otherwise be costly. Instead of printing up fliers or buying newspaper ads, you can create a cost-effective landing page to target potential customers and spread the word about weekly specials and events at your brick-and-mortar location.
It can also increase your revenue by providing a new sales channel for existing products. This can include adding an e-commerce section to your website with a shopping cart and payment processing system so that customers can make purchases directly from your site.
Conclusion
In the end, you’ll find that starting a website is relatively easy, not to mention low-cost. Most of us already have access to the tools we need—at least at some basic level.
In fact, the chances are that if you own a small business, you probably already have most of what you need to get started. And in today’s economy, every little bit helps. So without any doubt, building a website helps your small business grow and build a strong online presence!
