Websites work 24*7. No matter what your business or profession is, a website can generate a large amount of business, promote goodwill among customers and prospects, and deliver strong marketing messages – whether your business is small, large or in-between, well-established or brand-new.
People use to search on the Web in greater and greater numbers, more and more every day. Even if you are a completely local small business, service, contractor or consultant, odds are people have used search engines to look for your web site – and if you don’t have a web site… well, you are losing your business.
E-commerce websites are increasing day by day but the vast majority of business websites are still information websites rather than product-oriented. If your business offers products and services, then you definitely need an online e-commerce store.
How does a website help a business?
Having a website doesn’t just lead your business to exist in the digital world; it helps it to thrive in the physical world as well. A website helps a business in various areas of growth involving your customers, your reputation, and your visibility in your community and industry.
Generates Leads
A website helps your business by generating leads with calls-to-action. A call-to-action is a button or text on your website that prompts someone to provide their contact information for a specific purpose. Examples of calls-to-action include schedule an appointment, get a quote for a service, download a brochure or eBook, or request more information from the business. Having calls-to-action on your website that requires visitors to fill out a contact form provides you with a list of people to follow up with and potentially convert into clients and customers.
Saves Time
A website can save you time and money as a business owner. Think of your website as a conversation you’d have with a person interested in your services, whether on the phone or in person. Answering questions they have will show that you are knowledgeable in your area of expertise, will increase their trust in you, and may potentially lead to a sale.
Having a website enables you to provide the same information you would in a conversation, but without you actually having to be there. Even better, a website works to allow you to have multiple “conversations” with potential customers at once because, unlike having a one-on-one conversation, more than one person can view your website at a time. Time otherwise spent answering these questions and informing customers can now be allocated to other priorities. In addition, the thought-out content on your website will, at times, articulate your business and services better than you can on the fly.
Promotes Your Business
In addition to giving information about your business, a website allows you to showcase your business’s products and services. Depending on your business, you can have a photo gallery or portfolio of your work, a blog where you can stand out as an expert in your area and provide useful information, and even a section for customer testimonials. This allows customers to see how and why they should use your business, which makes their decision making easier.
Expands Your Reach
One final way a website helps your business is by expanding your reach. Storefronts, hanging flyers, and business cards have geographical limitations in terms of who they can reach. With a website, anyone can find or stumble upon your work, not just people in your area.
SEO, or search engine optimization, work to get your business found by people conducting online searches, putting your business in front of more than just the people who are walking by. If your business website contains enough content that is relevant to your service and location and useful to your audience, you will show up on search engine results pages and get discovered by more people.
Increases Local Exposure
Customers often conduct local searches through Google maps to find businesses and services in their area. Having a website linked to your Google listing allows customers to seamlessly proceed to the next step of engaging with you after finding you, whether that step is visiting your store, calling your number, or something else. Clearly listed contact information to facilitate convenient engagement is one of the must-haves for a business website.
With the level of internet usage among customers today, it is imperative to get started with a website for your small business. Not only will a website allow you to establish a presence in a world where your target audience lives, but it will also make it easier for more people to search, discover, and contact you. A website doubles your efforts in answering questions, providing details, and refining your brand identity—all of which makes it as easy as possible for customers to establish a relationship with you and turn into clients.