Internet use has increased dramatically in recent years, and people are using it in many areas of their lives. For example, a research shows that more than 81% of people research a business online before making a purchase decision. So, if you're a business owner, you this presents your with a great growth opportunity. Whether you're want to build a new website or redesigning an existing one, the web can help you grow your business. But what are the benefits of having a website for your business? Let's see five of them.
1. Boosts Credibility
According to a study, businesses with a website are regarded as more credible than those that don't. Some people won't even trust a business without a website. So not having a website makes people trust you less.
A website is one of the first places potential clients go to check for your credentials, reviews, awards to have an idea of who you are, what do you offer, and eventually decide whether they want to engage with your business.
So it goes without saying that having website can instantly boost your credibility and make your business look professional and legit. For example, having a website enables you to use your domain name to create things like a corporate email, which makes your business look more professional.
There's a big chance that several businesses are providing similar services to yours, so a well-designed website can help you showcase your expertise and better position your business in the market; it can help you stand out from the crowd something that can generate more revenue for your business.
2. Not as Hard or as Expensive
You don't need to be tech-savvy to have a website. Nowadays, with no-code website-builders like Webflow and EditorX, it's easier to design, build, launch, and manage websites. And with some effort and commitment, you can even build one on your own.
Websites offer a better return on investment (ROI) than any other form of advertising. So if you're thinking of marketing your business, a website is the way to go. Over time it will lower the cost of client acquisition. And even if you have to hire a web developer for assistance and regular updates, it's still worth it especially when you think about the potential number of customers you'll find each year. Even if you're a small business that's starting out, you can afford a website. Actually, you really can't afford not having one.
3. Brand Positioning and Control
Your brand is what people say about your business; is the reputation your business has. And just like a person's reputation is something out of his control, you can not control what people think about your company. But the good news is that, just like a person can influence what others think about him, you can influence what people think about your business.
A website does a great job in helping to shape how brand. Without a website, it can be challenging to establish who you are because people can't easily find reliable information about your business. So your website can help shaping the perception of your brand in a very effective way. By including things like a portfolio, image gallery, or videos as testimonials about the quality of your products or services, you can demonstrate what makes your company unique. This allows you to position yourself in the market and attract more of the type of customers you're looking for.
"If your business is not on the internet, then your business will be out of business" - Bill Gates
By having a website you can easily keep your customers informed about new products, upcoming events, or special promotions. Through a blog, you can provide added value with tips, guides, and other resources. And if you spot a mistake you can easily correct it, something that can be much more difficult in other forms of advertising such as the printed ones.
4. Better than Social Media
What if you think social media works fine for your business? Well, think again. Facebook, for example, claimed that in 2018 people spent 50 million fewer hours on their platform than they did the year before. While social media networks have the potential to increase revenue, depending solely on them can be a huge mistake and can cost you lots of money over time. Think about this: in social media platforms the quality of the content you post is compromised; they control who can interact with what you post and how they do it. With a website, however, your work and anything your post can be seen by anyone, anywhere, at any time.
Am I saying that social media are useless for your business? Not at all. What I'm saying is that your business needs a platform which enables it to explore its full potential and social media alone, can't do that for most cases. Instead of relying primarily on social media, you can build your own website and with social media integration you can share the content from your website with a wider audience and bring more traffic to your website.
5. Attracts New Customers
SEO optimized websites can help your business appear in a relevant position for a variety of terms or keywords searched by people in search engines. Making yourself visible through google helps your business to grow. and since a website is available 24/7 it can serve as your business advocate during outside office hours. If more than 81% research online before deciding to buy, this means you're not capturing a share of this market. And guess who's got it all? Certainly not you, if you don't have a website.
What will you do?
Hopefully, by now you’ve realized that the question isn’t “do I need a website for my business?”, but “can I afford to not have a website in the digital era?”. And the answer, if you want to continue thriving, is no. A website is one of the best investments any business can make in its future. There’s a very small and inexpensive barrier to entry, and there is a massive opportunity to help grow your business. Remember, a website:
- Adds more credibility to your business;
- Is not as hard or as expensive;
- Helps to position and control your brand;
- It's better than social media; and
- Attracts new customers to your business.
