In today's digital age, having a website for your small business is more important than ever. With the world becoming increasingly reliant on the internet for everything from communication to commerce, it's hard to imagine running a successful business without a web presence.
But is it really worth the investment of time and money? Let's take a closer look at the benefits of having a small business website to help you make an informed decision.
This stat says it all
If you're still on the fence about whether or not to invest in a website for your small business, it's worth taking a moment to consider just how important digital presence has become in today's world.
Research shows that 97% of consumers look for businesses online, and 94% of B2B buyers begin their research online as well. In short, if don't have a website, your potential customer aren't going to find you.
Your chance to showcase your brand online
A website is the perfect platform to showcase your brand's personality and unique value proposition. From the overall design and layout to the content and messaging, every element of your website should work together to communicate your brand's story and values. This helps you create a strong first impression with potential customers and sets the tone for your entire relationship with them.
Customers move down the sales funnel
Not only does your website showcase your brand, it encourages the user to take action. From signing up to a newsletter, filling out a contact form, or making a purchase, you're always showing the customer what step to take next.
This control of the conversation is unmatched. You're reliant on third-party directories to list you first and praying people walk down the right street to stumble on your shop. With a website, you welcome them as they land on your site and direct them to act until they leave.
Open 24/7
Your website never shuts. (Unless it's down for maintenance, which is rare).
Whilst you're sleeping and you're best salespeople are resting, your website continues doing what it does best - promoting your business. This is where you showcase your products or services, share your story, and build trust with potential new customers.
When they take action (like contacting you or purchasing a product online), they'll be warmed up and ready to buy. All with very little effort from you.
Establish your authority in the industry
Anyone can call themselves an expert. A website lets you prove it. By creating high-quality content that helps your customers, they'll see you as the go-to person.
As like above, this builds trust with your potential customers and then converts them. Once converted, further helpful content increases loyalty. Your website and blog turns into a sales machine.
Find customers wherever they are
Search engines love helpful content, too. If you're helping people answer their questions, search engines reward you by placing you on the first page.
With 84% of searchers using Google three times a day or more, you want to make sure your business appears on that results page. You could rely on directories listing you, but why leave it all to a third party? Your competitors aren't.
A website become's the centre of your small business' marketing strategy. Whether ranking your site on Google or encouraging customers to share on social media, this is where everyone will point to. With no website, there's no where to point.
The ROI of a small business website
A website for your small business is important - but is it worth the investment? Let's take a closer look at the costs and benefits so you can make an informed decision.
The initial investment: Website design and development
The cost of developing a website for your small business can vary widely depending on a number of factors, including the complexity of your site, the type of platform you choose, and the degree of customisation required. While it's true that developing a website can be a significant up-front expense, it's important to remember that this is an investment in the future of your business - not just a one-time cost.
When it comes to website design and development, it's important to work with a reputable company that understands your business needs and goals. A good website design company will work with you to create a site that is visually appealing, user-friendly, and optimized for search engines.
Additionally, investing in a responsive website design is crucial in today's mobile-first world. A responsive website design ensures that your site looks great and functions properly on all devices, from desktops to smartphones.
Ongoing costs: Maintenance, hosting, and updates
Once your website is up and running, you'll need to factor in ongoing costs such as hosting fees, website maintenance, and updates. These costs can vary considerably depending on the size and complexity of your site, but they are important to consider when budgeting for your website.
Website maintenance is crucial to keep your site running smoothly and to ensure that it remains secure from cyber threats. This can include tasks such as updating plugins, fixing broken links, and backing up your site regularly.
Choosing the right hosting provider is also important. A good hosting provider will ensure that your site loads quickly and is always available to visitors. They will also provide support in case of any issues or downtime.
We cover all the costs involved with maintaining a website in another blog post.
ROI is hard to measure
The ROI of a small business website can be difficult to measure. If you don't have a website at the moment, you can measure the value of leads through a new website over a set period of time. But that doesn't help you make a decision now.
Instead, look at the potential that a website can bring to your new business:
- Attracting new customers
- Building trust and credibility with potential customers
- New streams of income (eCommerce)
For most of your new customers, your website will play a part in their buying journey - so every penny is worth it.
A website is the start of your digital marketing strategy. Not the end.
Having a website is just the first step towards building a successful online presence. Once your website is up and running, you need to implement a range of digital marketing strategies to attract new customers and build your brand online. From SEO to Social Media, there are load of options.
But each website is different.
That's why we start with a discovery call. We'll spend 30 minutes figuring out exactly what you need. After that, you'll receive your proposal and the next steps.
Ready to start?
