It’s everyone’s dream to settle down and have their own small business. But the majority of business owners just shrug off the idea of having a website, especially when there’s too much work that needs to be placed on one.
When everybody has a smartphone in their hand, everything is just a tap away from the thumb. Want to know where the nearest hair parlor is? All you have to do is type in “hair parlor” and the place that you’re located in and you’re bound to get pins on your Google Map on the nearest and most convenient place that you can go to. Look to grab some lunch on your hour break at the office? You’re just one search engine away from knowing the best food stops right outside your workplace.
With all of these said, it would be quite unwise for a business owner not to have a website set up that will help potential reel customers. Even though almost everything can be found on the internet and social media platforms, only 58% of small businesses have websites, while 97% of potential customers will rely on search engines for answers.
Do You Need a Website?
To make the long story short: yes, you will need a website, even for a small business. Whether you’re running a laundromat, having your roof repair service, or starting an initiative to protect wildlife, having a website can spread awareness.
It might seem like a trivial question, but having your own website can ensure that you will be getting a reasonable amount of visibility, both online and offline. With almost all types of information being digitalized, putting up a website is always a rational choice.
According to some studies, a whopping 97% of American businesses that are small-scale will need a website. This will exponentially help your business grow in visibility and popularity. Of course, building the right amount of credibility and being able to stand out in a sea of other companies can be a challenge. However, it is still possible to gain the right amount of following.
What Makes a Website Good?
There is a multitude of different benefits to starting your own website. It might take the right amount of work, effort, and design, but transforming your website and social media platform into a place where people can find answers to their problems can build momentum.
What are these benefits? Here are some of the advantages that you can get from having your site:
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Steady Stream of Engagement
For most business owners, having customers continuously walk into your store is a sign that you’re going the right direction. In a way, when most customers see that a business is doing well for itself, they’ll also be curious about this. If you’re going to be setting up a website, you might also want to have a blog section. Blog posts are a great way of funneling in engagements and clicks.
The beauty of blog posts is that they are great ways of letting individuals become aware of your business. Most of the time, people use search engines to solve problems like “How to fix my leaky rook?” which will usually take most users to an article. Most individuals might not notice it, but now you’re in a site that offers their services on roof repair. Chances are, this article will stay there for years or even decades, which means that the material is already reeling in potential customers.
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Turning Engagement Into Leads
At the end of the day, your ultimate goal is to generate as many sales as possible. Of course, the best way of doing that is advertising the unique benefits of what your business can do. When potential customers are now on your website, it’s easier for you to sell them your services and products. It’s as easy as presenting a solution to a problem.
Another way of getting engagement is through having a strong media presence. This is especially true for most E-commerce sellers who are selling products and shipping them online. Having a content management platform such as a CloudFront CDN can help manage media on E-commerce stores, such as Amazon.
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Competitive Advantage
If everybody else is doing it, then why can’t you? You won’t necessarily need to conform to the standards of society to stand out, but having your business on social media or online will let potential customers know that you’re doing everything in your power to optimize your business.
Without a doubt, setting up a website for your small business won’t just reel in customers, but will also help your business grow. Most startups fail in the first year of their business because it’s hard to get people to walk in on the front door. A good marketing strategy while giving your business publicity will ensure that your business will be holding up well in the years to come.