Marketing for small businesses – The Website
Why do all small businesses need a web presence?
Imagine needing a new paintbrush for your latest painting of kittens, but you don’t know where to get it. There was a time when you would go to a big yellow book and thumb through the pages to the “Art Store” section. Not anymore. I haven’t even seen a phone book for years.
Today we Google “Art Store” and presented to us will be all the art stores close to us, all but those with no web presence.
You don’t want to be left out!
In 2020 88% of consumers searched for local businesses online, and in 2022, that number is undoubtedly closer to 100%.
If this is not compelling enough, here are ten more reasons.
1: Customers and Clients Demand the Convenience a Website Offers
Today’s tech-savvy consumers expect your business to have a well-developed website. They want to know who you are, what you offer, and even what you value, and they want this in a convenient, easy-to-use package.
Your Website is your 24 hours a day, 365 days a year marketing tool. In the case of E-Commerce websites, it is your store that never closes.
2: A Website Offers Social Validation
What others have to say about your business is very important to your customers and clients. You have control over what you put on your Website. You can choose what testimonials you wish to post and the social media sources you decide to link. Customers and Clients are looking for that validation, and you should control that narrative.
3. Direct the Narrative with your Website
It is challenging to influence what people say about you; you can direct your brand awareness by writing your own story on the Website. Your Website is the most efficient way to establish your branding, vision, and mission.
With 5.6 billion searches on Google per day, 63,000 searches per second, imagine how many of those searches are for your product or service.
Without a web presence, those potential contacts are lost forever, well, lost to you.
4: Optimize ROI
A cleverly built website will cost you some investment; this is true. Still, with the clever use of SEO, blogging, and social media, the benefits will far outweigh those costs.
With a clever strategy, your message has the potential to reach thousands of customers and clients per day. That is cost-effective indeed. Without much investment, you will reach a wider audience than any traditional marketing strategy.
Find out more about blogging here.
5: A Website Adds To Company’s Validity
When you are ready for your business to be taken seriously, a professional website is an investment you must make.
More than 80% of people discover new companies or products while searching on their smartphones; this is where not having a website can damage your credibility.
In today’s world, credibility matters, and that credibility comes from the image your company portrays. Your Website, blog, and social media presence is the most significant factor in that credibility.
6: A Website Opens Constructive Dialog
Your Website is the perfect host for your blog. A blog is an opportunity to educate and inform your customers and clients as well as your potential contacts. With an effective blog, you can also open a dialog with your contacts. This dialog is your opportunity to have your contacts educate you about their needs and wishes.
7: A Website Makes you More Competitive
Take a look at your competition. Are you really competitive with your competitors?
To compete, you will need the tools. For example, imagine trying to run a store without being able to take credit cards. That is just ridiculous, right? Just a few years ago, you may have been able to conduct a cash-only business, but not today. It is the same with a professional website.
Your competition most likely has a good website with adequate google rankings. Can you afford not to?
8: Declining Social Media Reach
There is a marked decline in social media engagement. Social media alone is no longer a viable marketing plan. However, that does not mean you should forget about social media; a hybrid approach is an answer.
Using Social media to drive people to your Website is an effective plan. From what I have seen with my clients, this works very well, and the return on investment is positive.
9: Extend Your Working Hours
Your Website is always open!
Imagine, if you will, your new customer wakes up in the middle of the night realizing that they need the product you provide. Grabbing their phone, they do a google search looking for where they can get that product tomorrow. Without a web presence and good SEO, you will not even be considered for the sale.
10. Demonstrate Your Offers
Your Website will be the first interaction between you and your customers.
With images, descriptions, and testimonials, you will put your best foot forward for your new customers and clients. In addition, there is an opportunity to have supporting documents available on your Website. All of this will be available to anyone interested at any time.
In conclusion, who needs a website for their business?
You do!
If you are worried about the cost, remember that the cost of not having a website is much higher.