Having a small business website isn't just about selling your goods and services — it's also about providing something of value to potential customers.
Why should a business have a website? More specifically, why do small businesses need a website? Surely for small business owners there's enough to be dealing with already. Ultimately, you need to be responding to how your customers are behaving. Before trying out a new business or service, many people now turn to the internet to make an informed choice about their purchase. This makes having an online presence essential for business success in the modern economy. The benefits of having a website when you run a small business are huge.
Seven reasons every business needs a website
1. Your customers expect it
If this were the only reason on the list, it would be enough. Six out of ten consumers expect brands to provide online content about their business on some form of digital property, and more than half head straight to the brand's website for product information. If you don't have a business website, today's digital-savvy (and impatient) customers may look elsewhere.
2. It provides social proof
Ninety percent of consumers claim that online reviews influence their buying decisions. Since potential buyers are already looking for you online, including customer testimonials on your site is a great way to impress them.
3. You control the narrative
It's true that you cannot control what others say about you on social media channels, but you can influence public perception by creating your own story via a business website. A company website helps business owners get their message, mission and personality in front of their target audience faster than print ads or brochures. Plus, social icons linking to Facebook, Instagram and other platforms make sharing your content easier for visitors who like what they see.
4. More benefit with less cost
When you create a website, you position your company to reach thousands more potential customers for less than you would spend mailing ten brochures by traditional mail.
5. Your competitors all have company websites
Consumers typically start their buying journey with research and recommendations from peers and social network connections. Studies show that once a consumer has an idea of what they need or want, they start researching, and 72 percent of them go online to find educational material, reviews and testimonials. So if you're not staying competitive, you're giving shoppers a reason to buy from another brand.
6. Never put up the 'closed for business' sign again
Nobody wants to work at 3 a.m., but some people like to shop then. Having a business website or e-commerce store means you can sell products all the time — not simply between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. An online store can mean a dramatic boost in sales, especially when you factor in customers who are not restricted by geography. Your online presence also supports marketing campaigns, customer service, client relationship building, brand recognition and almost every other element of the revenue stream.
7. You'll show up in Google search results
Consider this: 81 percent of consumers perform online research before making a purchase. That means they go to Google and type in one or more keywords, like "best leather shoes" or, if they know what they want, "handcrafted Egyptian leather women's shoes in Cairo." Without a website, you simply are not part of that conversation.
A website is the only channel you own outright. Social platforms change their rules; your domain and your site stay yours.
Where to start
Start small and start properly: register your domain in your own name, put up a clear five-page site that explains what you do and how to reach you, and make sure it works on a phone. You can add a blog, a store or a booking system later — but only if the foundation is solid.