Top 10 Reasons Why Your Business Needs a Website

Chances are if you meet a prospective client or customer, one of the first questions they will ask is … do you have a website? Hopefully that answer is yes! 

A company website has become the business card of today, the gold standard, a calling card, if you will. 

While it’s still necessary to have that traditional business card, it’s also imperative to keep up with technology. It’s important to create a website that not only promotes your business but serves as the pillar and the communication hub of the organization. 

Creating an effective website is a struggle for many companies who can't devote an entire department or even a position. As we continue to see more downsizing across various industries, creating and maintaining a company website becomes even more challenging. 

Web platforms, like Wix and WordPress, have helped, but are not super intuitive, especially for those who are not tech-savvy or impatient. Plus, a business owner should be focused on running the business, not investing precious time into learning a daunting and cumbersome software application. 

Even if you’ve done a great job building your own website, what do you do once it’s built? There’s an old adage that says if you build it, they will come – well not necessarily. If you build it and do nothing, then your website will be buried somewhere in the world wide web. 

How do you get your website to rank? How do you get to the top of the list from an Internet search or even on the first page for that matter? It’s not easy and there are lots of questions to answer. Doing it on your own may not be the answer, and you may even have to call for back up so that you can focus on your business and let someone else handle the rest. Here are the top 10 reasons why your business needs a simple, yet effective website.

Reasons Why Your Business Needs a Website Tip #1 – Extend Your Reach 

Creating and maintaining a website allows you to extend your reach and contact more people than you could through word-of-mouth advertising or traditional methods. A website also helps to break geographic boundaries and allows you to extend your reach to generate more leads. Reaching customers that normally could not be reached is the beauty and number one advantage of creating a website. 

Reason Why Your Business Needs a Website Tip #2 – Create a Lasting, First Impression 

Because your website is often the very first place a client will visit, this could be your only chance to make an impression and provide visitors with vital information. It also gives credibility, and a business with an established website conveys a sense of trust. A good first impression is key because it helps you stand out from the competition and ultimately helps to make a lasting impression that converts to sales. 

Reasons Why Your Business Needs a Website Tip #3 – Fulfills the Need for Immediate Gratification 

We are a society that has information available to us at the touch of a finger. So, when we want information, we want it fast, and we want it now. Whether it be the price of a particular listing, location, description or photos, we don’t have time to wait. A website provides information quickly so customers can make purchasing decisions faster. 

Reasons Why Your Business Needs a Website Tip #4 – 24/7 Accessibility 

Not only do we need immediate gratification, but as a society we want what we want … when we want it. A store front or an office building can only be open for so long, but a website allows your business to be open 24 hours a day and 7 days a week so a prospective client can shop or browse your services at any time. A website extends our reach beyond the constraints of opening and closing times and enables us to meet customer needs anytime of the day. 

Reasons Why Your Business Needs a Website Tip #5 – Pandemic Friendly 

A business that can operate remotely has an advantage during a global pandemic, zombie apocalypse or any catastrophe that could derail operations. Organizations that can reach out to new customers, stay in contact with existing customers and conduct business through a website are more likely to thrive during any situation. 

Reasons Why Your Business Needs a Website Tip #6 – Stay in Constant Communication 

An effective website allows us to continue to communicate even when official operating hours are over. Visitors can get updates on upcoming sales, policy changes, special promotions and additional products or services. A contact us page on a website is a valuable tool to collect data on new leads and potential future customers. And, the 24/7 nature of websites means that you’re capturing this data even while you’re sleeping. 

Reasons Why Your Business Needs a Website Tip #7 – Establish Your Authority 

Having a website gives you a voice in the marketplace. It allows you to establish your knowledge, your authority and your expertise. Your website also creates a platform to convey that authority. Through blogs and testimonials from existing customers, you can establish and continue that authority far into the future. 

Reasons Why Your Business Needs a Website Tip #8 – Low Marketing Costs 

Creating an effective website doesn’t have to break the bank or the marketing budget. There are many website tools on the market today that will allow you to create a simple yet, effective website. Of course, you can leave it up to the professionals and delegate that responsibility which will reduce employee costs like healthcare and retirement benefits. But it doesn’t have to be difficult. A few hundred dollars will get you a domain name and a host provider which will allow you to create your presence in the marketplace if you want to stick to being a do-it-yourselfer. 

Reasons Why Your Business Needs a Website Tip #9 – Mobile Friendly 

Most of us don’t go anywhere without our smartphones which is why ensuring our website is mobile friendly is vital. One of the most popular times to search for a company website is when we are out and about. Having an established website, when customers are searching for a desired listing nearby is the key to capturing your ideal target audience. 

Reasons Why Your Business Needs a Website Tip #10 – Not Having One is Detrimental 

Not having a website may send the wrong signal to potential clients. It may convey that you lack resources which could affect credibility and professionalism. This could steer them away and send them to the competition. Plus, for anyone looking for information about your business, not finding your website is annoying. In today’s world, a business website is expected. As a business, you need to capture that need for immediate gratification and if you can’t, it could mean lost revenue. 

Bonus Tip – Knowing When to Ask for Help 

Many businesses are focused on day-to-day operations and don’t have time to learn complicated applications, and that’s OK. This is when it’s time to focus on YOUR business and let the experts do the rest. My goal is to help you build, grow, and nurture your vision. I would love to learn more about you and your business goals. For more information about my web design and support services or to get a free website checkup, contact me today.