For many small businesses, having an online presence can be the difference between success and failure. Today, a majority of customers research a business online before they make a purchase decision.
If you want to grow your business, you have to meet your customers where they are – online. Yet there are still many small businesses that do not have a website or any online presence at all.
While some are concerned about the price, others feel they are not tech-savvy enough to create and manage a website.
The reality is: you don’t need to be an expert to run your own.
With an ideal hosting solution for small businesses, you can learn to leverage your business and boost your revenue without spending a single cent.
If you’re still on the fence, here are 5 good reasons why your business needs a website.
1. Attract New Customers
There are millions of people searching for products and services online and that means you can be found easily. Having a website will make your business appear on Google searches, and you can take advantage of SEO to become more visible.
Your website will also act as your always-on advocate even when you are not available. Customers will be able to engage with your business even during the night. New customers, better service delivery, more money.
2. Boost Your Credibility
A website makes your business more credible compared to businesses that only have social media profiles. Having one is therefore a crucial tool for inspiring trust and building the credibility that every business needs.
Apart from having one, you also need to ensure that your website is well designed. This will boost your brand image and reputation.
3. Take Control of Your Business Image
Today, there are several online platforms for reviewing businesses, and most of the time, there’s nothing you can do about how your business is portrayed. However, when you have a website, you can create your own story. You can clearly outline how you do business, and you can even feature several of the best customer reviews, combating negativity.
If your business has been featured in a magazine or a popular blog, you can also display those on your homepage.
4. Your Competitors Have One
Don’t give clients a reason to buy from another brand. If your competitors are not online yet, they will soon be. In the meantime, it’s time to establish your brand as a leader in your field by building a high-quality website and online presence.
If they are already online, study their shortcomings and build a better site. To catch up with them, you can then optimize your website and boost your reach.
5. It’s No Longer Intimidating or Expensive to Create One
It has never been easier to create your website from scratch, and you don’t even need to be tech-savvy or have lots of resources. Modern site builders like Wix, Squarespace, and even WordPress make it easy to build an attractive, fully-featured, and mobile-friendly site with little to zero knowledge of code.
Some web hosting companies even provide users with a website builder, and you can even find free themes. As for hosting, you can start out with shared hosting which is cheap and easy to manage, and then scale up as your traffic grows.
Wrap Up
If you’re going to compete in this day and age, you’ll need to have a website. It’s one of the most important investments you can make for your business and the rewards are endless.
You may be interested in: “5 things you need to think about before launching your business website”