Over the past few years, there has been a push to “shop local” to support small businesses, mainly made possible by the internet. An online storefront allows people outside your geographic area to find you and become your customers or clients. That’s why it’s so essential that every small business has a website. A strong online presence can make or break your business. Keep reading to learn the five reasons why every small business needs a website.
1. Build Credibility
One of the main reasons to have a website for your small business is to increase your credibility. While many other businesses offer similar products or services to yours, you can stand out from them by having an excellent website. Your site should look professionally designed (even if you did it yourself), convey your expertise, and communicate quality information to your customers. If you don’t have a website, potential customers may question your business’s legitimacy. So, take the time to create an outstanding website; it will allow your business to make a great first impression and comfort people that your business is authentic.
2. Get More Customers
Continuous business success often rests on your company’s ability to bring in new clients. Reaching thousands using only traditional marketing methods like direct mail or print advertising can be quite expensive with inconsistent results. A website facilitates your company’s efforts to reach more people locally and outside your region. Not only will you pay less for this reach, but you can measure the specific results.
If you’re looking to hire a professional SEO agency to help your website rank better, contact Yellow Hat today!
3. Drives Organic Traffic
Once your website is set up, and you have had it fully SEO-optimized, the chances that you will show up in search engine results increase. This means that when people are searching for products or services like yours, there is a good chance your website will show up in the results. This allows you to increase your customer base drastically.
4. Grow Your Business
Countless small businesses aim to expand in the market and reach out to new customers. While face-to-face interactions can be essential and business usually comes from word-of-mouth, a website offers you an opportunity to “give your business card” to thousands of prospective customers or clients online.
If you set up an e-commerce store, you can sell your products online and ship them to customers nearly anywhere in the world. You may find that customers in a nearby city or town are interested in your products or services, leading to a more extensive service area and potential expansion to regional offices. By having a website, you can reach a greater number of potential customers and opportunities.
5. Saving You Time & Customer Service
Many businesses get calls from existing or prospective customers asking simple questions about location, prices, opening hours, etc. Suppose a call is missed, then you are left with an unhappy customer or a lost prospective customer. Calls can also distract your staff from concentrating on the more critical parts of your business.
A website can reduce these types of missed opportunities and increase internal productivity. At the same time, it helps customers find valuable information without needing to call, which ultimately provides an all-around better user experience.
Are you looking for help creating blog posts to boost your SEO? Check out our Content Creation services!
Before you go
Now that you’re ready to start building your website, you should first establish your address on the Web, otherwise known as a “domain name.” Your website’s address is crucial to being recognized, remembered, and accessible in the digital age. Take care when choosing a domain name and domain extension. Ask yourself which domain extension works best for your business, such as .com, .net, or .co.uk. Second, select a memorable and descriptive domain name that isn’t already taken by another company.