Why do I need a website?
We hear a common question when we encounter old-school business owners or people who just started a business.
You’re here because you’re wondering whether your company needs website development or website maintenance. Well, the short answer is yes.
At the end of the day, crafting the website design is up to you. You can choose a DIY option or build one from generic templates available online. But to make your business stand out, you’ll need a professionally designed site.
When you partner with an agency, you are still in control of the web design and design team. You get to decide the timeline from planning to launch. With a professional web design, you’ll see new opportunities open up for big or small businesses that you might never have anticipated.
This article will explain why you need the website design, online address, address business owner concerns, and help you get started.
Do I Really Need a Website?
The answer to “Do I need to build a website?” is yes. The truth is clients won’t take your business seriously unless you have an aesthetically pleasing and functional site to go with it.
Customers have changed their behavior over time to adapt to modern technology. The internet exploded into the scene in 1990, and customers adapted their habits quickly. By 2011, almost all phone directories were out of commission. Plus, in 2011, over half of Americans were already using the internet to find local and small businesses.
The number of site visitors has increased to almost one hundred percent in the modern-day.
A professional web design is essential to getting more customers and site visitors. Still not convinced? Let’s look at the reasons and the stats.
No Matter What Industry You Work In, You Need a Website
You might be asking yourself: Does my business need a website design for online marketing? Maybe you run a small business for a butcher’s shop or nanny service, and you have never thought that you needed a website design. The truth of the matter is that many modern customers expect to engage with local businesses online.
If you have 250 employees or less, crafting a website allows you to access new markets and target new customers without breaking your bank account. Studies show that digitally-savvy small businesses garner significant benefits:
- Per employee, establishments earned two times as much revenue.
- Yearly revenue growth was nearly four times as high.
- New yearly job creation was nearly three times as high.
- The average employment growth rate was more than six times as high.
- Three times more likely than their competitors to have exported last year.
The numbers look irresistible, right? Despite the plethora of reasons why small businesses need a website, many don’t take full advantage of the digital marketing tools available to them. Let’s go over some of the usual pulls toward solidifying your online brand and bringing in more site visitors.
Reason #1: Your Customers Won’t Consider It a Business without It Being Online
Did you know that, on average, Americans spend 23.6 hours online per week?
The figure doesn’t even touch on mobile devices. With smartphones, people tend to spend 5 hours per day scrolling. Establishing a website helps you take advantage of that scrolling time to get more clients.
Remember, being online means being accessible to both mobile and desktop users. You’ll want to develop a responsive site to appeal to more individuals.
Without a website, customers will consider you less professional. It won’t matter that you have the most desirable commodities and services. The friendliness of your staff won’t sway online clientele. Consider your internet presence as putting your best foot forward.
Reason #2: Your Customers Need Answers
With the long hours spend scrolling on their phones and electronic devices, customers are looking for information. The chances are high that they are looking into your business. Don’t you want to be the one to give them answers rather than having a search engine do it for you?
Consumers want information, and they want it immediately. During your website design, you’ll want to answer three questions:
- What is your business?
- What do you offer (products and/or services)?
- How can customers reach you?
You want to mull over these three questions and how you will design your website to provide instant answers. Combine aesthetic with function to give viewers the most accessible experience possible. Try to keep the client scrolling to a minimum by having all information upfront and clear to avoid frustration.
Reason #3: Be the Leader Online
Do a quick online search to find out whether or not your competition has an online marketing presence. If your competitors don’t, jump on the opportunity ASAP.
The answer to the question, “Why do I need a website,” revolves around being a leader in your field. Make a high-quality and professional website design, and you establish yourself as the top player in your industry.
If your competitors already have websites, let your creativity shine. Design a site that users have never before seen. Show customers why your company stands out from the rest and why they should buy your products and/or services.
Reason #4: A Website Ensures Your Success in the Long Term
If you are serious about your business, you have your eyes on the long term. The future is pointing, now more than ever, towards the internet. Almost half of the global population is online as of 2020, and the number will continue to rise.
To reach a wider audience, going online is crucial. Do you want to keep up with the increasingly digital world? Invest in a high-quality site.
Reason #5: Social Media Can Only Take Your Business So Far
Maybe you already have a substantial online presence through social media? You utilize Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, among other channels, to reach clients and spread your business. Great! Keep up the hard work. Social media is an essential part of navigating the digital world and attracting clients.
But social media is far from the end game.
Unfortunately, social media platforms are getting more challenging to connect your business with potential customers. Facebook regularly updates its algorithm, making organic growth more and more trying. Plus, the once giant in the social media field is becoming less and less popular as more modern platforms take their place.
If you use Instagram or Twitter, you might see a slightly higher rate of organic growth. However, a massive pull on these platforms is due to businesses linking directly to their websites. The social media presence is no longer enough to draw clients bombarded daily with ads. You want to create calls to action that incentivize users. Linking posts back to your website is a hassle-free way to do that.
Maybe you’re still asking yourself, do I need a website? If your social media platform presences are strong enough, you might not feel worried. If you have objections, the next section is for you. We’ll cover the most constant arguments and why building a killer website will help you.
Many Business Owners Say Things Like This
The amount of information could seem overwhelming, right? Building a website adds to your already overflowing plate as a small business owner. Unfortunately, these excuses won’t cut it in digital marketing.
The concern is understandable. After all, suddenly, you’re having to save money to invest in a website. Maybe a website cost wasn’t in your plan at all, or you decided you’d worry about them later? It’s okay, so long as you’re ready to put in the work to build a website now. The most satisfying part is that you can craft a beautifully designed online site for an affordable price.
So, let’s dive into some common objections that small business owners have to build a website. We’ll dissect them and go over exactly why the logic is faulty and why “I need a website” should be at the forefront of your mind.
Objection #1: “My Business Is Too Small for a Website”
Maybe you’re the smallest business among small businesses in your area? That’s okay. But that doesn’t mean that you should limit yourself. You could still benefit from crafting a website, especially if you don’t want to remain small indefinitely.
Up-front investments are a crucial part of managing a small business. You need to be willing to make bold first steps and solidify yourself as a player in digital marketing. A website will be your top marketing tool to help customers discover your business and bring in site visitors. You don’t need anything elaborate or expensive, just something accessible and aesthetically pleasing.
Think of a website as your marketing LLC license. If you don’t invest right away, you’ll suffer down the road.
Objection #2: “My Son Handles All My Web Pages.”
Maybe you’ve buckled down on the family aspect of running a small business. Whether out of necessity or desire, your son (or daughter) runs the show online. If your child runs the social media aspects of your small business, that isn’t a problem. But unless your kid is a software developer, website builder, website designer, and SEO expert, among other things, your site will suffer.
Plus, wouldn’t it be more helpful to have your children by your side while you build the business rather than in the background?
Maybe your company is booming in popularity already? You don’t have the space to fit everyone for the dinner rush, or you regularly have to re-stock products. First of all, congratulations. Second of all, a website does not need to function as a place to find new customers.
If you have a website and run a local restaurant, you can make the experience more pleasant for you, your staff, and your regular clientele. You can add your hours, locations, directions, and a community blog directly to your site. Online menus and reservation widgets will help your operation become more efficient.
Objection #3: My Industry Doesn’t Require a Website
You might think because you’re in a field like processing or packaging, your business does not need a website. The truth is that all industries benefit from digital marketing. No matter what product, service, or function your company has in the market, consumers are now trying to find you online more than ever—even if you’re a B2B company.
All businesses need clientele to thrive, whether that’s customers or partners. The purpose of an online presence is to help consumers find you, learn more about your business, and entrust that you’re the one. Rather than leaving those functions up to Google and Yelp Reviews, why not take control of your online presence?
A website allows you to build a community of followers who know your business and ethics. It will be a place where your customers gather and share your mission within their circles.
The short of it is, even if you aren’t an e-commerce business, a website design reaps too many benefits to put off any longer.
So Do I Really Need a Website?
Yes, a website will help your business grow in ways that you didn’t think previously possible. Modern-day website design is uncomplicated, affordable, and necessary. Hopefully, you’re no longer asking, “Why do I need a website?” Instead, you’re thinking, “I need a website for my small business, so how can I proceed?”
Whether you decide to utilize a website design platform yourself or choose to partner with an agency to get your website designed, the decision is ultimately up to you. What’s important is understanding the risks associated with forgoing a website for your business.
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