Having a Website for Your Business

It’s 2017.  For those of you who haven’t picked up on it yet; the internet is here to stay.  For a business there is no longer any viable excuse to not have a website.  Not only are a large percentage of sales done online now, but the average consumer, when in need of a product or service, is going to search online for options.  Even if they plan on buying something in a store, they may have to search a site to see where the store is and if they have in stock what they are looking for.  Therefore, a website is necessary if you don’t want to fall behind your competitors.  Here are some additional reasons why a website will directly benefit your company, whether big or small.

All you have to offer in one place:

A website is a commercial, billboard, catalog, and brochure all in one.  You promote your business, share all of the products and services you have to offer, and tell your customers about who you are as a company. 

If you’re a company that sells products you have the opportunity to not only list all of your products, but also describe each one, highlighting its specifications so the customer can understand exactly what they’re considering purchasing.  Instead of needing to go to your store to browse your selection, customers can go through hundreds of items in minutes from the comfort of their own home.  Convenience is a huge factor for the modern consumer, and they will appreciate the convenience your business provides by putting yourself at their fingertips and into their homes.

Reach more customers:

Every day billions of people use the internet.  Billions.  Different sources will tell you different statistics, but it’s estimated between 80-90% of those people have made an online purchase.  If you’re not online then sales are definitely being missed, because you can essentially guarantee that your competitors are taking advantage of website sales and promotion.   

Better communication with customers:

Most websites have a “Contact” section where individuals can reach out to the business in order to inquire about services or ask questions about the company.  This is a great way to have a personal relationship with those you are trying to sell to, and allows them to feel that they are not just a sales number, but an interacting part of your business. 

How can my website stick out amongst my competition?

There are plenty of ways to personalize a website to make it not only a representation of yourself and your business, but to appeal to your customer base as well. 

Easy navigation:  Too many websites are much too complicated for consumers to navigate.  A website should be simple, so that whoever visits can easily find what they’re looking for.

Links to social media:  Getting involved in social media is a great way to more casually interact with customers. Having a Twitter or Facebook is a great way to post promotions or sales that can instantly be acknowledged by your followers. 

Explainer videos: Explainer videos are a great concept that have been recently starting to come to the forefront of website success.  Short, captivating videos that describe your business in a fun and interesting way can be a great tool for generating interest, brand loyalty, and sales.  For affordable prices you can hire companies to both write the script, find the perfect voice-over, and put together an animated short clip of what makes your business the right one for the consumer.

Customer input:  As stated before, having an FAQ and/or contact section in your website lets the customer know that their input matters.  They can send requests or complaints and you can respond in a timely manner to make sure that your customer needs are being met. 

What if I don’t have time to maintain a website while committing to my actual business?

It isn’t uncommon that you will be too caught up in your actual business to be able to spend the time creating and maintaining a website.  Fortunately there are companies that will do this for you for a manageable fee.  These companies can update information, products, and anything that you request them to do.  Likewise, there are companies that can manage social media for you as well, making daily posts about your business, your industry, or about the business environment in general to show that you are active in your consumer world and understand what is going on around you.

Don’t miss an opportunity that the rest of the business world is taking advantage of.  Compliment your business with an amazing website to make sure that you’re doing everything you can to make your business thrive.