8 Reasons Your Small Business Needs A Website

Everybody knows that the massive corporations make millions online but does every small business really need a website? It may seem like an unnecessary investment for a local business, but I’m a firm believer that in this day and age every business has to have their own website and I’ll give you 8 reasons why.

1. It is your shop front, only bigger

For most people today, the internet will be their first port of call so you have to have an online presence. Just like a shop in the high street, your website advertises what you sell and entices people to find out more about you. If you don’t have a shop window how do people know you even exist? The biggest difference with a website, though, is that the rent is dirt cheap! By making a small investment to begin with, you can own a website that will last you for years to come.

2. Reach out to a wider audience

Online, your audience is not limited to only the people that walk past your shop, you can reach people from a much wider area. By having a well designed website that ranks well on search engines and provides a quality user experience, you can receive custom from clients that may not have known anything about you before they stumbled upon your site. A good web developer can provide you with search engine optimization (SEO) to help you to reach a wider audience.

3. Your competitors have websites

Almost every business has a website now so if you don’t, I’m afraid to tell you that you’re behind the game. Technology is moving at such a rate, and the internet is constantly growing and evolving. In order to stay relevant in today’s fiercely competitive market you must excel online and beat your competitors at their own game.

4. You’re always open

People use the internet outside of store opening times and by having a company website, you’re never closed. Whilst it’s not practical for your business to be open 24/7, your website can happily sit there, showing off your services to potential clients at 2 in the morning. You could be earning money whilst you’re asleep, and if that’s not a reason for a website then I don’t know what is!

5. Show off your reviews

Surveys show that most people on the internet are influenced by reviews and testimonials. By showing your happy customers’ comments on your website you can help to build trust with your potential clients. After all, we all want to know that we are getting good value for money, no matter what service or product we’re buying.

6. Build your brand

Your website is the perfect place to get people familiar with your brand. By having a modern website and brand that mirrors your company’s vision and values you can help to create a lasting impression with your customers. If done properly, prospective clients will come back to visit your website again and again.

7. Online marketing

Advertising on the internet has taken off in recent times, and having a website opens the door to so many marketing opportunities. A good online marketer can help you with advertising campaigns that can target your specific audience. This can result in high traffic to your website, giving you great coverage across your local area. Because it is targeted, it will also produce high quality traffic, sending people to your site that are genuinely interested in your products and services. Online marketing is arguably the most effective method of advertising in the 21st century, and what’s more, it’s not as expensive as you think!

8. Keep clients up to date with news and offers

Posting regular content on your site will not only help you to rank higher on search engines, but it will also help you to inform customers of any sales or updates you may have. I recommend all my clients to write a blog as it helps to create an affinity between yourself and your readers, and it allows them to get to know what kind of company you are.

Need help getting your website off the ground?

If you haven’t got a website yet, or your existing website is in need of an overhaul, get in touch and I can help you sort it out. Thanks for taking time to read my post and if you think I’ve missed anything out be sure to let me know!

Over and out!