3 Reasons Why You Need a Business Website
Being a sole proprietor or a small business owner is no easy feat and there is a wide array of tasks to be accomplished with so little time. In the digital age, the importance of having a physical as well as a virtual presence cannot be over emphasized. There is no excuse for the absence of a virtual presence or a badly crafted one. Presence in this context refers to your website. Your website is the first online contact that your potential customers have with your brand and it should be a direct call to action that gets people to want to do business with you. With that said, here are some reasons why a strong website is vital for your business.
1.First Impressions are EVERYTHING
In a world where the INTERNET is KING and every decision is tied with information gotten off the internet. This is no different when people need a product or service, the first stop is usually the internet. Most businesses are judged based on the quality and accessibility of their website, or customer reviews. Based on this, your first impression must be impressionable to make potential customers return and do business with you.
2.Window Shopping has taken a different approach
Window shopping is a way for customers to catalog your business and determine if they want to do business with you in future or at that moment. Walking into physical stores isn’t the only way that people window shop anymore, they use search engines and review sites to get a feel of your business. Before purchases are made, people turn to search engines and review sites to decide. Ensure your business is listed on major search engine platforms, review websites and other platforms used for business analysis by customers. Beyond your website link, your location i.e. your address, phone number and email address are also available. Social Media links can also be added as a bonus for active users.
3. No website = Less business
Not having a website is cutting out 50% of your potential customer base and which in turn is not helping your business actualize its sales potential. A bad website is better than no website and no website means no sales. Overall, a bad website damages the reputation of your business because it makes your business look bad. With so many resources that provide free templates for websites, there is no excuse for a badly crafted website. If you are not proud of your website, this means your website is bad for business.
If you are a small business owner or a large organization, your website should represent a larger than life persona for your brand with a dedicated team for the management of your online presence. In the digital space, it is all about appearances and your website should resonate capability and reliability with its polished look and easy accessibility by customers.
This article was adapted from Nicole Leinbach Reyhle’s article 3 Reasons Websites Are Vital for Small Businesses. Nicole is the Author of Retail 101: The Guide to Managing and Marketing Your Retail Business, as well as the Founder of Retail Minded and the Independent Retailer Conference.
