Does your business have a website? Or should your business have a website?
As an IT consultant and digital marketer, many a time I encounter business owners who don’t see the need or urgency of getting a website for their business. The reason is they see their business as too small or too local to warant a website. This way of thinking among other factors is the reason many businesses remain small or collapse after some years.
According to a survey by Verisign, more than half of all small businesses in the US do not have a website. In most developing countries, the figure is even higher. The situation is inimical to the growth of small businesses hence, I have put together seven reasons why every small business needs to have a website.
7 Reasons why every small business needs a website
- Global Presence
In today’s technologically driven world, not having an online presence on the internet means you’re not in tune with the times and season. Having a website gives your business an automatic online presence. Most often, businesses acquire a physical brand material such as a billboard or banner that exposes the business to the limited number of people who come across those brand materials. Think of a website as an online billboard with exposure to millions of people who use the internet every day. A website opens a small business to the global community and thus a larger market reach. - Potential Customers
Business growth mostly depends on a company’s ability to get new clients. While face-to-face interaction is important and business often comes from word-of-mouth, a website gives you a chance to “pass your card out” to millions of people online. A website gives businesses the opportunity to introduce people to their products and services easily as well to be found by potential customers without much effort. Every day, more and more people are getting onto the internet this presents more potential clients to business who are positioning themselves online. - Enhanced Credibility
In today’s world, people expect businesses to have their own website – just as they used to expect businesses to have a legitimate physical address. Not having a website raises questions in customers’ mind. A lot of people I speak to tell me if they hear of a business and can’t find it online, they find it difficult in doing to buy from them. I personally do so too. Having a website makes your business more credible and legitimate. This helps to boost your brand identity. - Competitive advantage
In business, staying ahead of your competitors is critical to success. Nowadays, potential customers do a lot of research online before buying a product or acquiring a service. If you don’t have a website, you are helping your competitors gain traffic and out-grow you if they have an online presence. By not having a website, small businesses are indirectly positioning themselves to last in the market. - Improved Customer Service
A business with poor customer service is likely to fail. A website does not only provide the avenue for businesses to present their products and services but also to easily communicate and attend to customer needs. With a website, a business can easily showcase their new products, services, news, updates, announcement, events, prices, and easy contact form. All these activities improve customers service delivery which will enhance customers’ trust and remain loyal to your brand. - It can save cost
A website can help a small business to save cost on many things, especially branding. Branding is essential for business growth but must be done in a smart and affordable way. A website can help save on printing marketing materials such as billboards, flyers, coupons, brochures and so on. - Compete with the “Big guys”
One key advantage of the internet is that it provides a level-playing field to anyone who has access. For many small business owners, competing with big companies is something many avoid as they do not have as many resources as the big guys. In the market today, people do not always look at how big you are but how presentable you are. With a well-designed website, small businesses can present and mingle with the big guys as well as landing big deals.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, We have presented more justification for small businesses to have a website than not to have. The potential of the internet is enormous, and it is imperative on small business owners not to deny their businesses the benefits of online presence.
A website is an extension of your business – and so if it should be done, it must be done right. If you will need assistance in getting a website, get in touch with us. We have been providing excellent and affordable websites to clients all over the globe.