A question I am often asked by small business owners is whether they need a website and at what point of the business’s life should they get one.

The truth is whilst you may not need a website at the start of your business or get much traffic in the early days it really is never too early to start building an online presence. We live in a world of instant connectivity where consumers expect businesses to be fully visible and transparent in who they are and what they do in order to build brand confidence and loyalty. Therefore it makes sense to start building your online web profile as soon as possible.

Here are all the ways in which having a website can benefit your business.

01. An online shop

Essentially having your own website is like having your own shop front. Think of the homepage as your shop window display, you want to entice people in to view your products and services. Your website is where potential clients can learn about what you have to offer and learn more about what makes your business special.

02. Information

Having your own business website allows you to have all your information in one central place that your customers can easily access. It makes you in complete control of what information is available and how up-to-date it is, as well as giving you a platform to showcase what you do best to attract your ideal customer. It also allows you to offer additional resources and information such as blogs, freebie, videos or membership portal.

03. Defining your brand

Similarly to my first point, having a website allows you to be in control of what information and visuals are shared about your business. Your website is a place where you brand identity (your message, logo, colour palette, typography, images) can shine and provide your visitors with a memorable experience that will hopefully make them return in the future.

04. Credibility and professionalism

These days having a website can make you appear more credible as a functioning business and showcase your professionalism.

84% of today’s consumers think a website makes your business more credible than companies who only have social media profiles.

That said there are plenty of websites out there that are poorly made with bad branding which proves that this doesn’t apply to all! In those cases people visiting may not stick around long enough to find out more which is another important reason to have good branding and web design for your business.

05. Connecting with your customers

Your website is the ideal place to connect with your customers and show them. SEO (search engine optimisation) plays an important part in your online visibility and can improve your search engine ranking, getting your business more visibility among your target audience.

06. Growing an email list

A key feature of a well-built website is the opportunity to build an email list of your potential customers. When people stop by your website and like what they see, you are in great position to offer them more related content in the form of downloadable freebies or opt-in promotional offers which then allows you to grow a list of people who want to receive what you are offering. This in turn allows you to build a list to share newletters, business updates, new products and services, launches and more.

07. Social proof

Your website is great place to showcase your client/customer reviews and testimonials. Social proof is an important part of executing your landing page strategy so make sure to include some on your homepage. By using social proof in the form of testimonials and reviews you're helping customers make a decision, feel confident about their choice, and a part of something bigger.

08. Growth

In 2020, almost 4.54 billion people (59% of the global population) use the Internet, and more and more people are getting online.

Without a website, your business is invisible to these people. As we progress further into the digital era, investing in a website will make your business more visible to everyone and increase your reach, thereby giving your business the opportunity to grow.

The Takeaway

Having a well-designed website can make a big difference to a business. It allows you to showcase your products and services as well as attract ideal clients, communicate your unique value and hopefully convert them into customers and clients.

If you are considering investing in a website why not schedule a free consultation with me and we can discuss the best way for you to achieve this.