08/06/2013
Reasons Every Small Business Must Have A Website
1. Your customers expect to find you online.
Right now a website is seen as a business basic and no-one wants to deal with a company that's not serious about business. Thanks to super fast, low cost, home broadband and the latest generation of smart phones virtually everyone's on-line now. The barriers to entry have all been dismantled. Your company won't stand a chance if it doesn't show up in the search results when a potential customer is looking for precisely what you're selling.
2. Your competitors are online
What's a better reason for getting your business online as fast as possible? Your competitors are already there.
Not convinced? Take a look if you don't believe me; imagine you're a potential customer and do some research on Google. Enter some relevant keywords and see who shows up. These are the companies you'll need to compete with. And right now they are taking business which could be yours.
The days when the simple fact of having a website made you stand out from the crowd are long gone. Now it works the other way round: no website means you won't be taken seriously.
People use the Internet to comparison shop before making purchasing decisions. If you aren’t online, your customers are researching – and buying from – companies who are.
3. A website is always open. 24/7
A good website means you need never close. While you're out having fun at the weekends your website will happily mind the store. Even in the dead of night people can loop up directions, send messages, find out your opening hours, ask FAQs and browse details of the latest special offers.
Oh yeah, and it can even help you sell more stuff too!
4. Make more sales
Think of your website like a shop front. A place where you can display products, promote special offers and stimulate sales.
eCommerce is exploding and you should compete for a slice of this growing market. And if your business is more service based you can use your website to generate leads and attract new clients. Projections for the growth of online business continue to look robust despite the recession. Without a website your business risks falling by the wayside.
5. Better Customer Service
A website is a great place to display the answers to those all important FAQs. Directing people to look on line will reduce the time your staff need to spend answering questions on the phone. By giving people easy access to the information they want online you'll reduce cost in other areas.
With a good content strategy you will build trust, educate and enhance your professional image. Make sure it is super-easy to contact you. You want feedback - even if it's negative - because it gives you the change to engage and win people over.
6. Flexible online brochure
At some level your website functions as your online brochure. Of course it can be so much more than this but it's definitely a key factor. Unlike the expensive hard copy brochures of old your website is agile, editable and flexible. Most modern websites are built around an easy to use Content Management System which allows you to make changes whenever the need arises.
These days people prefer to travel light rather than lug around several kilos of glossy brochure. It's good for the planet and helps with your bottom line too.
7. Attract new staff
Are you hiring? Your website can be a fantastic recruitment tool. A place to post vacancies and provide candidates with plenty of opportunity to find out more about your company before they complete an online application.
Why pay recruiters or third party advertising costs when you run your own help wanted ads?
8, Toot your own horn
What better place than your website to let the world know why other people think you're fabulous. Testimonials and case studies crammed full of positive quotes from happy customers will instill confidence. Displaying the details of awards you've won recently and industry accreditations will encourage people to get in touch.
Customers are heavily influenced by the opinions of other people. Use whatever you have to create a positive impression.
9. Extend the reach of your other marketing.
Once you launch your business website you should link to it from everywhere. Of course you'll want your website address on your business cards and on your letterhead. You should also include it across your social media bios, add it at the foot of any articles you've written and in any display ads you're running.
There you go, nine compelling reasons any business will benefit from a professional website. Still not convinced? Contact us and tell me why.
