Less than half of small business owners have a website.

This statistic is shocking considering how much time we all spend on the internet and how digitized our world is today.

Most of the small business owners who don’t have a website don’t think that they need one, and this thought process indicates that there are a lot of uninformed business owners out there.

In an effort to clear up any confusion and bring the benefits of a website for small businesses to light, here are our top 5 benefits of having a website.

Why is a Website Important For Your Business?

The biggest reason why small business owners choose not to have a website is that they simply think they don’t need one. Maybe they have a brick and mortar store or have been in business for decades and have a strong referral network, and business is good. so, they think a website is not for them. So, does this type of business need a website?

The answer is yes, and here’s why:

1. Helps You Grow Your Business

In today’s business world, if you’re not growing, you’re dying. Websites aren’t like they were in the early 2000s’ when the internet just started heating up. Today, your website is less about just providing information about your brand and more about telling your brand’s story.

Between social media and mobile devices, the growth and popularity of the internet have skyrocketed, and business websites have become an integral tool to share your message. Consumers buy from brands that they resonate with; they have many options for purchasing, but choose who to buy from based on emotion, or how well they connect with your brand and story.

Without a website, you’ll have a hard time telling your story and growing your business. Consumers prefer to buy from businesses that have a website, as this is where they go to get to know your brand, style, and unique story.

2. Allows You To Assert Your Professionalism

Your business is more than just a business; it’s a brand, and your brand has a story. Don’t make the mistake of not working on your brand until your business gains traction, this isn’t the best approach.

You need to establish your brand as a professional company, and you can do this even before you launch your business. Your brand will give your business an identity, which will make it easier for customers or clients to understand what you’re all about.

When you develop your own personal brand and style, you can then use that to market your business on your website, social media, and more to show that you’re serious about your business and the look and feel you put out into the world about it.

3. Shows Off Your Work

Most small businesses these days don’t have a physical storefront, so how do they show off their work and prove their credibility and talent? With a website.

If you’re offering any type of work or product that can be made visual, the best place to show it off to potential customers is on your website. An online portfolio can go a long way in showcasing your work and impressing potential customers.

Additionally, customer or client testimonials can really boost your credibility and trustworthiness. Client testimonials should be prominently displayed on your page.

4. Keeps Track of Your Business in One Easy to Use Place

One of the biggest advantages of website utilization is the fact that you can keep track of your business performance through the use of tools like Google Analytics.

Analytics will give you valuable insights on how your business is performing across several markers, including:

• Traffic to your website, or the number of visitors.
• The number of new, or unique visitors to your site.
• The page views, or how many times a particular page has been visiting and engaged with.
• The bounce rate, which is a percentage of site traffic that leaves your site without ever navigating past the initial page they landed on.
• The average time users spend on your site and view your content.

This data is extremely powerful. As a business owner, you can take a look at the numbers and determine what type of content visitors are engaging with most and if there are aspects of your site that you may need to change to encourage people to engage further with your brand.

5. Builds a Strong Relationship with Your Target Market

The way to achieve loyal customers and ultimately business success is to build a trusting relationship with your target market. Your customers need to know that your business understands their needs and provides a reliable solution.

How Does Your Website Allow You to Build Trust and Make Sales?

Create a Blog

This is a great way to share your knowledge, expertise, and personality with your potential customers. In addition to your home and about us pages, this is the next place site visitors go to find out what your brand is all about.

Cater to The Needs of Your Market

Invite your audience to engage further with your brand by encouraging their participation in things like commenting on blog posts, taking surveys, filling out forms, and more. You can then take this information and tailor your services to meet the needs of your target market.

Don’t Just Sell

No one wants to feel like they’re being sold to all the time. Make sure you’re providing value in your content. This means you’re addressing their needs, concerns, and desires and not just pitching them all the time. Keep your sales to a minimum. The more consumers trust your brand, the sales will follow naturally.

Provide Reliable Customer Service

Make sure you have plenty of ways for your market to get in touch with you and that you’re responding to them promptly. People who feel unrecognized will quickly move on to the next business. A business website can add multiple communication channels and opportunities for your customers to reach you.

Does Your Business Need a Website in 2020 and Beyond?

Yes, more than ever!

With the new year and new decade approaching quickly, having a website is more important and vital for business success and sustainability than ever.

The digital trend is only going to continue to increase, websites for businesses aren’t going anywhere. In fact, as brick and mortar storefronts continue to dwindle, many businesses find that competing in the online space is the only way to survive these days.

Another common mistake businesses make is thinking that they can get away with just having a social media presence. While maintaining socials is certainly part of today’s business culture, it’s unreliable and should not be depended on solely. What if Instagram or Facebook went away, where would that leave your business?

Why is Having a Good Website Important?

Let’s face it, there’s a big difference between having a good website and a not-so-good website. If you’re using a free Facebook business page as your company’s website, it’s time to upgrade.

While having a business presence on social media is necessary as well, if you want to earn the trust and respect of your target audience, you need a professional website with professional business copywriting.

If you want a website that can take your business to the next level, you’re going to have to invest in a professional design. While a professional site is not cheap, it’s important to keep in mind that your website is an investment in your business that should yield you an awesome return.

In order for your website to get you the highest ROI, you need to hire a professional designer that knows how to fully optimize it and pack it full of compelling content that’s designed to convert and capture the essence of your brand and style.

While it’s true that there are plenty of DIY website platforms out there, your best option is always to hire a professional who has the experience and training to build a highly functional yet aesthetically pleasing website that not only attracts customers but encourages them to engage with your brand and convert to paying customers.

Want to Learn More About The Advantages of Website Design and How it Can Benefit Your Business?

Contact us today! Let the team at PeakSites Web Design take your business to the next level for 2020 and start this new century out with a bang!