Believe it or not, many small to mid-sized businesses still do not consider the aspect of using the Internet to market, present or conduct their business. In fact, according to a survey by the research firm Clutch, 46% of small businesses in the U.S. still don’t have websites built for their companies!
There are several factors that cause business owners to shrink away from establishing a proper website but the most common ones are; they think social media is already a sufficient online presence; they are unwilling to invest money or time which they believe is better allocated somewhere else; they lack the skill or expertise to actually create one.
In this article, we will share some of the reasons why having a website is vital for your small business and why the above factors shouldn’t hinder you from expanding your online presence. If you are a business owner sitting on the fence, then this article is a must-read!.
Your Website Is Your Intro
Most consumers, especially today’s generation do research online before they make a purchase, check-in to a hotel, or even dine in a restaurant. For these reasons, you want your first impression to be the best it can be. Think of it as your company’s resume or portfolio. If you don’t have a website, it sends a message that your business is not able to keep up digitally and can turn away potential customers. Modern consumers wish to support businesses that can keep up with the times!
A Website Makes Your Business More Professional
In today’s digital marketplace, businesses without websites are perceived as less credible or a lot less reliable. 84% of today’s consumers think a website makes your business more credible compared to companies who only have social media profiles. When consumers look for a reputable business, they also want to see what your company is all about and what sets it apart from the competition. A website makes all of this information available just a click away from consumers. Here’s an example: World Financial Group is a company that empowers the financial freedom of entrepreneurs through small businesses. To be able to communicate what they do, they created a website and filled it with stunning designs and quality content that uses an honest voice instead of vague promises. In this way, you can easily build trust among your potential customers which is the core of long-lasting customer relationships.
A Website Is More Affordable Than Traditional Advertising
If you’re thinking of doing traditional marketing to lessen your spending on the advertisement, think again! The typical traditional marketing involves print, broadcast, direct mail, phone, and outdoor advertising like billboards. These methods definitely help reach targeted audiences. However, opting for traditional marketing can be pricier compared to going digital. For example, to run a print ad, you need to have a budget of at least $2,000-$160,000, depending on your needs. In addition to that, you are not sure if you’re reaching your target audience because the results are difficult and costly to measure. In comparison to having a website or going digital, businesses can have full control of their audience growth and see real-time results of each campaign. Furthermore, the average cost to create a website for a small business only ranges from $2000 to $10,000, depending on the number of pages on the site and the amount of customization required.
To sum everything up, websites not only help small businesses advertise and sell their products or services, but also allow them to separate themselves from their competitors, especially for those consumers who rely heavily on the Internet to learn everything about a company before deciding to move forward. And a website clearly adds credibility to your business and strengthens your brand.
The pieces of information, content, or advertisement you put online will push the consumers to your website. As the foundation of your digital presence, 1 At Bat Media is aware of the importance of having a working and outstanding website that attracts potential customers and clients.
Looking for help with creating your own website or updating an existing one? Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation!
References:
- https://clutch.co/web-designers/resources/small-business-websites-2016-survey
- https://themeisle.com/blog/do-i-need-a-website-for-my-business/#:~:text=1.,or%20awards%20your%20business%20has.
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicoleleinbachreyhle/2014/09/29/websites-for-small-businesses/#fbf148d20265
- https://www.webfx.com/blog/web-design/how-much-does-it-cost-to-build-a-website-for-a-small-business/
