A website serves as a window into the way a business operates. As such, it can offer many benefits, from reaching a wider audience and brand building to being a free and effective way to showcase your products or services. And while you may have been operating without a website for this long, having a website can take your small business to the next level.
Reasons why you should have a website as a small business
Reach a wider audience
Having a website allows your small business to be accessible to your existing customers but also to anyone on the internet, which can greatly expand your reach beyond your local area. To encourage success, you need to attract new customers and one of the best ways to do this is to be more visible on Google. Plus, your website is available 24/7, which means customers can access your products and services at any time so you won’t miss out on any sales, even outside business hours.
While social media platforms are indexed on search engines like Google, a business website gives you access to many more tools and strategies for Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). If you have a physical store, local SEO can also help you to reach local customers around the area.
Build Credibility
A website can give small businesses a professional image and help establish credibility with potential customers. It also provides a platform to share customer reviews and display awards or certifications in the website footer – increasing your trustworthiness. A website can help small business owners increase flexibility, control, branding and credibility. Research has shown that it only takes 50 milliseconds for consumers to make judgments based on their first impression of a website! This shows that the aesthetic quality of a website is linked to how people view your brand. To be credible and attract new customers, a well-designed, regularly updated website can make a huge difference.
Showcase your Products & Services
With a professional business website, you’ll be able to show potential customers what they’ll get when they work with you. You can display high-quality photography of your products or video footage of your services to give people a sense of what they’ll be getting.
Your business page can also include images of your physical location which works well for restaurants or shops. Where possible, try to include images of people to add a human element to your website. You can also publish important information about your products and services on your website to make sure you’re attracting the right customers.
Grow your Business
Many business owners want to grow and expand in the market. While face-face interactions can be important, having your own website gives you the chance to appeal to a much larger online audience. With an online store, you can sell items online and ship the product to customers almost anywhere in the world. You might discover a new demand for your items in a neighbouring city where you may not have been able to reach without your website.
Cost Effective Marketing
Having a website helps establish a web presence for your business, allowing customers to find you easily and learn about your offerings. Compared to traditional advertising methods, such as print or TV ads, having a website can be a more cost-effective way to reach customers and promote your business. A website provides a platform to engage with your customers, whether it’s through online chat support, email forms, or social media integration.
Collect Customer Data
By using tools like Google Analytics, you can collect valuable data about your website’s visitors, which can help you optimise your website and devise marketing strategies to better meet their needs. This can also be useful for digital marketing efforts to tailor your messages accordingly.
It’s no longer intimidating to create and manage
22% of small businesses in the UK attribute embracing technology as a barrier to business and 12% say this is due to financial issues. At Cariad Web Design, we understand that, as a small business owner, you’ll want to save on costs and time as much as possible. We provide professional pay monthly websites at an affordable rate so your business can flourish online at a low cost. You’ll have an ultra fast, secure and optimised site that we can also maintain and manage for you.
Get in touch today to chat to one of our friendly experts about designing your brand new professional website.
