Have you ever pondered, why your business needs a website?
If you are an entrepreneur or a business owner who is either getting started or have been in business for years, you know that building a profitable business requires consistent goal setting, precision and growth strategies.
A professional website is one of the most important growth platform that is highly underrated by many business owners.
I recently had an encounter with one of the engineering firms who did not believe they needed a professional website.
This sparked my curiosity to understand the mindset behind why any business, who really wants to grow, would overlook the value of a professionally designed website?
Upon my thorough research, I found the following reasons behind this mindset:
- My business is based on word of mouth and networking, so I don’t need a website
- It is too technical for me to understand and implement, so I am going to try something else
- I use social media for my business, so I don’t need a professional website
- I use newspaper ads, radio ads and flyers for my business, that’s good enough for me
- I did not grow up with computers, so I don’t know where to start
- I cannot afford a website
- I have a website, but I do not advertise it, because it is outdated and needs to be redesigned
- I do not sell stuff online, so I do not need a website
- I am retiring soon and I do not need to grow my business
I believe, in this day and age of Internet, it has become convenient to harness the power of a strategically designed website and grow your business online. Investing in a professional website will give you the boost that you have been craving to increase your brand awareness and revenue.
Here are 25 ULTIMATE reasons why your business needs a website:
1. Digital Presence is Becoming a Must – Proven by statistics
There are 7.3 billion people on this planet. As per market researchers, a whopping 4 billion are internet users and 52% of this global online population accesses the internet from their mobile phones.
And get this, half of the world’s population will be using mobile devices to access the internet by 2020.
That means:
There is a potential of a wider reach through dedicated online platform for your business. You can present your products and services to more people, who are looking for solutions that are only offered by YOU.
2. Becoming a ‘Customer Expectation’ and Relevancy Check Point:
A user experience (UX) optimized website is expected by majority of the potential customers before they transition into paid customers. A business website becomes their go-to hub to check you out on their buyer’s journey.
Your website is a place where your audience will flock to first, to see if you have relevant solutions that can solve their problems.
Plus, a well-structured website is something we all know how to explore, and it aids to get our questions answered.
Websites have been around since 1991 and social media started catching up around 1997. Not everyone uses or knows how to navigate your products, services and offers on social media, this gives an official website an upper hand to becoming a standard for your business’s online presence.
3. Your ‘Owned’ Space
You have complete control over whatever you OWN.
Website is your owned space that you can control and manage the way you see appropriate for customers and your business needs.
Rented and Paid channels such as Social Media and Google AdWords respectively, only provides limited control of ownership. Social media platforms, for example, Facebook, have introduced several new changes to their interface and algorithm.
This in turn has a continuous impact on the brand’s reach and engagement with their audience.
Thus, control is power when put into practice in a positive way, so own your space and make it work for you.
4. Dedicated Domain Name That is Unique to Your Business
Domain name is a unique, easy-to-remember web address of your website.
In order for you to have a website on the internet you need a dedicated domain name from a web hosting service provider.
You might have noticed other businesses with similar names to your business name. These businesses are mainly different from legal, location and niche point of view.
Note: Make sure you do your due diligence to pick a business name that doesn’t cause intellectual property infringement, trademark issues and other legal breaches.
However, no two businesses can have a same website address, thereby, giving your business another unique entity that you can promote to your target audience.
For Example:
Morning Star Inc.: Investment Research and Management Firm
Domain Name: http://www.morningstar.com/
Morning Star Farms: Vegetarian Food Producer
Domain Name: https://www.morningstarfarms.com/
Plus:
You can have a dedicated email address with your business domain name. e.g. [email protected]
5. Your Brand Ambassador
Your website creates an opportunity to share an elaborated version of your company’s vision, mission and values. It becomes a reliable channel for you to consistently communicate your brand message with your unique brand voice and brand identity.
As you own and control this space, you can leverage its power to share your story, your big WHY, and value proposition with your audience.
This in turn will attract people who resonate with your mission and are willing to support or participate in your cause to build a strong and vibrant community of like-minded people.
And remember:
Great brands are always backed up by strong communities.
6. Showcase Your Products and Services
Well, what good is a website, if it doesn’t inform the customers about your products, services and offers?
It is a perfect channel to showcase all your products, features, benefits, facts and services. Your website is more than a brochure and it shares detailed information about your offers, discounts, campaigns etc.
So do not leave this benefit on the table.
7. Your Salesperson
A strategically designed website is an interactive online sale person of your business.
A website prompts a prospective customer to think about the problem they are experiencing and offer relevant solutions. It guides your audience through their buyer’s journey and answers any questions they might have during the sale process.
8. Open for 24 Hrs/ 7 Days a week/ 365 Days a Year
Thinking of hiring a team of sales and customer service representatives, who are available to your audience 24/7/365? Wondering, if this strategy is going to break your bank account?
Look no further! You can afford to keep your business open 24/7/365 without breaking your bank. Simply invest in a professionally designed website that offers the most ideal solution to your customer’s need, pain, and expectations.
9. An Opportunity to Become an Influential Leader & Engage Audience
A website can be utilized to spark interest in your audience by sharing value-adding content.
Educate and empower your audience. Share your knowledge, case studies, ‘How-To’ related content and invite them to ask questions, leave comments and share with their social network.
For Example:
Convertkit Blog does an amazing job by educating their audience of online entrepreneurs.
10. A Digital Shop that Invite Readers to Explore, Feel, Interact With Your Products and Services
A website enacts as an online shop where visitors feel welcomed and are presented with engaging content to satisfy their needs, wants and questions in line with their business.
As per human psychology, we make faster decisions based on what we can see, feel, smell or taste.
A website laid out with appealing pictures of your products, portfolio, case studies and intuitive navigational experience, will engage the visitors at visual and emotional level.
11. Hub to Share Resources, FAQs, News with Your Audience
The best way to empower your customers on their buyer’s journey is by providing the information they like, such as Resources, FAQs and Industry related news.
People are always curious to know which tools, tips, techniques and strategies worked for you to grow your business. All they are looking for is some guideline and a reliable helping hand that can guide them on their journey to success.
12. Harbor Testimonials and Associations
Are you linked to any local or global associations, such as Better Business Bureau? Have you received good feedback from your customers? If yes, then why not share it with the world?
Your website is a great place to link these associations and testimonials since it is your professional ‘Owned space’.
Your involvement with other respected associations will promote trust and reputation.
Local Consumer Review Survey 2017 sheds the light on how consumers use testimonials to make a decision to purchase:
- 97% of consumers read online reviews for local businesses in 2017, with 12% looking for a local business online every day
- 85% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations
So, gather all the testimonials that you have ever received in person, via emails or social media and host them on your website.
13. Customize Call-To-Action
A well-designed website allows you to integrate customized Call-To-Action buttons that aid visitors on their buyer’s journey. If you are using social media to promote your business then this opportunity is limited to specific verbiage or functionality.
For Example:
If you are running a contest campaign, then a clear Call-To-Action button should say ‘Enter Contest’, whereas on social media, this can’t be customized and neither can mirror the functionality of locally hosted contest page.
Social media is certainly a useful source that redirects the visitors to your website.
14. Helps with Lead Generation and Conversion
If you think a website can be solely used to host information, then think again.
As we discussed above, website is your full time salesperson.
Power your website with lead generation opt-in forms and FREE downloadable resources. Nurture your leads by sharing exclusive tips and strategies via email. Invite your subscribers to engage with your products and services and build a healthy community around it.
15. A Trusted Hub for Everything in One Place
Website is the most trusted hub to stock up all the important information regarding your business.
When people land on your website, they not only check your products or services, but they also gauge other deciding elements, for example, your contact information, location, terms of services, Policy, Blog, Videos etc.
16. Integrates Contact Form to Book Consultations
If your prospects need to book a consultation, ask product/service related questions or simply request for a quote, then direct them to an easy to fill contact form.
Contact forms on the website are a great way to tell your customers that you welcome an opportunity to connect with them.
Contact form also adds a professional look on your website. It informs customers if the message was sent successfully or pops a relevant error with guidelines to correct the erroneous information entered. It safeguards your inbox from spam.
17. Promotes an Assurance of Security Among Customers
Have you ever bought any service or product without knowing how to contact the merchant in case of technical or customer support issues?
Most likely not!
A great customer support is vital for the success of any online business.
It is an expectation from the customers to ensure that they are protected and cared for in the time of need, as they have spent money on your product or service.
A website can be a reliable channel for your customers. A third party Help Desk Software can be integrated with the website where customer can submit a support request.
18. Accept Online Payments Through Secure Channel
Make it easy for your customers to pay online and in return, reap the benefits of expedited conversions and customer satisfaction.
In today’s digital world, it has become much easier for businesses to receive online payment through their websites.
Payment gateways like Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.net etc. are highly secure and trusted by millions of people. Leverage this feature to improve buyer’s journey.
19. Gain Customer Insight with Web Analytics to Make Better Marketing Decisions
How would you improve your business’s marketing strategy if you were given access to valuable customer insight directly from your website?
Google Analytics or other Web Analytics tool, setup with proper Goals and Key Performance Indicators, and integrated to the website can help you collect valuable data. This data when analyzed, can help you make optimal decisions to transform your business for good – in the long run.
Remember:
What gets measured, gets managed. Click To TweetGoogle Analytics can gather data like:
Website traffic, user behavior, user experience, demographics, technology used, what is converting and what is stale, time spent on website, customer activity and much more.
Utilize this insight and make better data-informed decision.
20. Website Localization and Web Accessibility
Are you targeting a global market or a wider range of audience to grow your business?
If yes, then consider building a website with multiple language support and web accessibility features.
Website localization empowers your business to communicate with local target audience in their native language and promotes cultural adaptability.
Whereas web accessibility enables people with short-term or long-term disabilities, to interact with your content and do business with you.
These strategies are customer-centric and sends out a message that everyone is welcome. Native language support and web accessibility enabled online businesses stands a higher chance of growth amongst their competition.
21. Integrates CRM, Email Marketing and ERP With Your Website
Do you use Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Email Marketing or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software for management for marketing and planning purposes?
If yes, then you must know the importance of gathering, storing and managing all the valuable business-related data in one place. Integration of these tools with your website will ensure, all the required data is collected, categorized and stored consistency and accurately.
Keeping track of lead generation, conversion, project status, customers’ information, email marketing campaigns and much more in one place will indeed setup your business for success.
22. Run Referral Program
A business certainly appreciates relevant leads and profitable conversion steam from their existing audience.
Referral programs are a great way to spread the word and employ your audience to market for you. Utilize your website to host your referral program by providing clear guidelines and easy to follow steps and rewards claim process.
23. Builds Credibility
B J Fogg, behavior scientist from Stanford University describes credibility with following formula:
Expertise + Trust = Credibility
Every business desires to do well and stay in the game for long-term. When a business demonstrates the quality of being trusted and believed in, doors of wonderful opportunities start to open.
To boost business credibility, it is imperative to design credible website. Click To TweetA professional website with an eye catchy design, user-centric navigational experience, and clear call to action buttons, smooth buyer’s journey, helpful content, testimonials and respected associations – builds credibility.
24. Invites a Wider Range of Audience
If you are one of those people who believe in gaining business via networking or attending bid meetings then let me share some tough love my friend- sooner or later you will have to manage your energy and focus on your primary work in order to be productive.
Networking is wonderful to connect with people, build trust and follow share-care-inspire-learn model. However, if you want to grow your client base outside your local reach then consider investing some time and funds in a professional website.
A website invites a wider range of audience – people who don’t know you in person but are interested in your solutions and people who have met you once or twice but would like to know more about your mission, solutions and results.
25. Digital Asset
Now think for a minute:
What is at stake, if you do not create a professionally designed website?
Yes, you guessed it right – it is a Digital Asset of the business.
A website builds a Digital Asset for your business. No work goes to waste if you strive towards a goal consistently.
In the long run, search engines will automatically start ranking your website higher, if you keep maintaining your business online reputation, generate high quality content, and spark engagement and stay focused on one primary purpose –To serve your audience. A website that makes the internet a better place for people always reap its rewards.
This digital asset is highly valuable for any business that believes in building a legacy and continue innovating and evolving for their community.
For Example:
As per Open Site Explorer, Apple.com has a perfect 100/100 domain authority score and 96/100 page authority.
Share with us :
What’s your take on why your business needs a website and which reason resonated with you most?
And if you are still not convinced then we would love to hear your reason(s) for not having your own business website?
At Upxcel we build affordable websites that defines beauty with brain. A website laid on strategic customer-centric foundation, powered with elegance and robust technology, security and efficiency.
Yes, I want to start my website Today!
Simplifying Business; Amplifying lives – UPXCEL
By – Praneet Kaur
Leave a Reply