Do you actually NEED a website?
If you don’t sell products or services online, do you really need a website? This article will discuss why having a website is important and how you can use it to grow your business.
Look like a pro
Most people agree that having a website is a sign of a business that is well established. It shows that the owner(s) have invested more time and money than just setting up a free social media account & that they are probably serious about what they do. Having an email address with your own “.com” also makes you instantly more credible when exchanging emails, or even handing out business cards.
When people are looking for a business online, they are often not actually comparing the companies, but the way the companies appear on their websites. Being in full control of the content as well as the style of your website allows you to showcase & introduce your brand in a meaningful way. It offers an opportunity to not only show off company colors, but really connect with your audience and show them that your business is the right fit for them.
Prove yourself
By showcasing some of your products or projects, you can show potential customers what they might expect to experience if they do business with you. Having reviews/testimonials on your page is another powerful tool, not only for showing what your current ratings are, but for getting new reviews from recent customers. People love seeing reviews!
A website is also a great place to display any certifications, qualifications or achievements, further solidifying your position as a pro. If you want to take things to the next level, you can create content related to your industry such as instructional videos, informational blogs & more. This type of content lets you put your knowledge on display & often brings in customers that are searching for solutions to exactly the problems that you regularly solve.
Social media is not enough
While being on social media is an important part of digital marketing in modern times, it’s still crucial to have an actual website. You don’t own the social media page, so you are at the mercy of the company behind it. If they decide to change the platform, you may have to change with it or get left behind. You’re also stuck sharing only the types of media that each platform operates with. With a website, you get total control which can be helpful for many reasons.
Social media platforms have limitations regarding Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Being able to craft things in a more custom way allows you to fine-tune how you appear in search results, driving more organic traffic to your website. Organic traffic means people that searched for something, found it, and clicked it- with no ads involved. This is basically free advertising that you shouldn’t be missing out on.
Being able to incorporate features like contact forms, sortable/searchable lists of products/services, maps & even social media feeds are all examples of ways you can create a more interactive, custom experience for your site’s visitors. When well implemented, this can create better leads, better customer relationships & a better bottom line.
“Now hiring”
For most businesses, a website is primarily a tool for driving sales, but it can be useful for other purposes too- like finding your next employee. By including a page with job listings, you may get discovered by someone searching for that specific position. By having the listing directly on your website they can easily learn a little bit about the company before reaching out to apply for a position.
A website can also be a great place to get discovered by vendors in your industry who may want to reach out to you with an offer or even leads. In this case too, they would have an opportunity to learn a little bit about your company before reaching out so they know if you’re the right fit before they even call.
Summary
So do you actually need a website? After considering only a few points it’s clear that having a website can help you grow your business & your brand. If you don’t have a website, now is the time to build a website that establishes your online presence & elevates your business to the next level. There are many great tools out there for building your own, or you can hire a pro & let them handle it for you- but don’t go another year without a website that represents YOUR company.