Many businesses, especially small businesses, run a tight ship when operating. The owner usually actions most business admin, marketing, and operations as they might have zero to a couple of employees to keep costs down.
In many cases, small business owners consider a website build a luxury item instead of a necessity. However, in 2022, a website is not something that a small business can live without. To better explain, an investment in a website for a business is essential and not a luxury. It acts as a portfolio to showcase services, products, and achievements, which will allow users to business credibility and reviews. With many customers Googling for reviews, there is a higher chance of consumers paying for services and products if the business is online.
Why should your small business invest in a website?
In our opinion, having an online presence is crucial to keeping your shop doors open. If you’re still unsure if a website is right for your business, see below five reasons every small business should invest in a website.
1. Online presence acts as the backbone for your marketing
In 2022, marketing for a small business starts and finishes with a website to act as a portfolio or shop. Having an online business will enable you to create a one-stop-shop for clients and consumers to visit and stay updated with product/service updates and marketing promotions. You’ll be surprised at how powerful a calculated online marketing strategy can drive consumer interest in buying and staying loyal customers to your brand.
Before spending a dollar on printed advertising like business cards, flyers, and brochures, use available business funds to get your website built. When a business has a website, it has more control over how it is perceived online and acts as an efficient way of communicating to consumers instead of printed marketing that is not environmentally friendly and usually ends up in the trash can. Unless you’re Coca-Cola with genius printed marketing strategies, keep your game plan simple and easy to execute for the best return.
To simplify the idea of a website, consider all information and marketing promotions on your site as a new-age notice board without the paper, corkboard, and thumbtacks. Your small business website can act as a helpful resource for consumers to get all the details they need, like your shop address, contact details, product and service list, prices, promotions, and upcoming events.
Lastly, a website for a small business can be the final destination for other marketing strategies. For example, if you’re producing a radio commercial, T.V ad, or social media ad, finish it with a call-to-action for viewers to head to your website for further information. Adding your website URL at the end of all digital and physical marketing promotions will ensure the viewer will always click on your site.
An online website for a small business allows you to support a variety of marketing strategies.
2. Use your site to sell products and services.
The ultimate goal for all small businesses is to make money while they’re sleeping. Having an online store where consumers can purchase products and services online means sales can be actioned even when you’re not available.
The flexibility of updating product and service information in real-time is one of the main reasons business owners choose websites compared to printed marketing is. It alleviates printing costs and time wasted for how long it takes for everything to be reprinted. Our agency carefully selects Content Management Systems (CMS) that are user-friendly and easy to use. This means that our clients can confidently take care of their own website and update page info themselves via drag and drop builders. Not only is this more convenient to you but also an affordable solution as you don’t need to rely on the help of developers.
Building an E-commerce component to your online business means customers can go to your website and make purchases directly; the marketing and sales flow to closing a sale are seamless and effortless.
Elements to incorporate in the E-Commerce part of your business are payment processing, inventory operations, shipping, site security (SSL Certificate), search, CRM, coupons, upsell, reporting, analytics, reviews, and FAQs.
3. Connect with customers from around the country and globe and retain existing clients
Since we are in the 21st century, when a consumer has a question, problem, or feedback to give, they usually head to Google for advice or a brand’s website.
Stay connected with your new and existing customers through your online website to make the communication experience clear, concise, and effortless.
4. Enhance the business’ positive reputation while having complete control of the narrative
Brand credibility and controlling how your business’ story is told are imperative factors in branding your business.
An online website will not only showcase a collection of products or a portfolio of services, but it also allows users to see if your business is trustworthy, authentic, and most importantly, not a scam or marketing ploy.
5. Google will show your business in consumer search results via an SEO (Search Engine Optimization) strategy.
Having SEO keywords on your website means you are doing your diligence in researching all the potential keywords users are typing into google to find a product or service like yours.
Keywords that link to your industry and brand are imperative to have on your website. It gradually moves you to page one on a google search and allows your business to create credibility through this strategic method of being seen online.
If you would like further information on websites and how they can assist in growing your small business, feel free to get in touch with us.