Do I Need a Website for My Business?

A website offers a wide variety of benefits for small businesses, and most of these benefits increase in value exponentially year over year, just like the Internet itself.

Ten reasons why you need a website for your small business

Open Online 24/7

Whether you sell products or services, operate from retail/industrial premises or your home, you cannot physically be available to offer information to your customers or prospective consumers 24 hours a day.

A website can offer a fantastic solution to this issue. Your site can engage and inform visitors 24 hours per day and seven days per week. Furthermore, it creates the opportunity to collect revenue night and day, by employing e-commerce solutions

Geographical Reach / Searchable

Traditional businesses can be limited by their geographical location. For example, if you are a bricks and mortar retailer operating from a high street, you may require your customers to visit your store in order to purchase items.

With a website, you will instantly expand your market reach to the whole World! Your site is accessible from around the globe, making your products and services accessible to billions of people.

Competitive Advantage /Business website competes your competitors

There is a high probability that your competitors will have a website and they will be gaining an advantage over those that do not. Launching your own site will result in your business being able to compete on a ‘level playing field’.

Additionally, Government statistics state that 53% of Australian businesses do not have a website! Evidently, this provides a significant opportunity for your business to gain a competitive advantage over your competitors.

Credibility

Owning an attractive and easy to use website will likely result in consumers viewing your business as credible. This is in comparison to competitors who either do not have a web presence or those who have a poor looking site.

Research has shown that over 75% of users admit to judging a business’s credibility by the look of their website.

Cut Advertising Costs

Do you advertise your business locally? Do you know how effective it is at driving sales?

Traditional forms of advertising have become less effective in the last few decades and if you cannot measure the success of this spend, it could result in being a waste of time and money.

Implementing a website puts you in control of the messages you want consumers to see. Furthermore, it is flexible, costs little and can be targeted at consumers with an interest in your business’s products and services via social media.

Lead / Consumer Insights

Leading on from the last benefit, traditional local marketing is unlikely to be measured and will certainly not provide consumer insight which can be useful in helping to boost sales.

A website can measure how many people are viewing your site, when and how they view and offer insights into the improvement of your messages. For example, you may find social media platforms are the main source of traffic to your site. As a result, you could increase your presence/advertising budget on social media to attract and maintain customers.

Customer Relationship / Showcase your products and services

An online presence allows businesses to build and foster a rapport with their customers. This can be delivered by additional information or special offers to loyal consumers.

Keeping your customers up-to-date on new products, services or news will build a value for visitors and encourage repeat purchases.

Customer Database/ Great marketing exposure

Online purchases and consumers subscribing to newsletter emails can be a powerful tool for your business. The information harvested can give businesses the potential to target relevant promotions at consumers who are interested in what you sell.

Improve Customer Satisfaction

An online presence for your business results in you being able to communicate and respond to your customers within seconds. This leads to a positive impression of your organisation and consumer loyalty.

Furthermore, if you have happy customers, they will be able to leave positive reviews. These reviews will eliminate the risk for prospective customers and likely increase your sales.

Websites Increase Sales

As a business owner, you will know presence and exposure is key to attracting new customers. A well designed, attractive website with interesting content will increase the probability of increasing sales.

Coupled with the good reputation of your ‘real world’ business, this can only help drive your business.