Do I really need a website for my business? I have a large social media presence with a ton of followers, so will a website really make a difference for my small business? If you’re asking yourself these questions, my answer is 100% yes! Your business needs a website, and here’s the nine reasons why.
Before you go any further, I want to say I have published this original story on Medium, here is the link to original story. Kindly support me there as well.
Reason #1: A Website Helps You Stand Out from the Crowd
Now, what do I mean by this? Well, a website sets you apart from those who are just dabbling online. It really makes a statement that you take yourself and your business seriously. Those who haven’t made that commitment to go all in on their business often try to make their business work by just posting and selling on social media alone. Now, you may get some sales this way if you have a great funnel in place or if you’re just lucky, but you can increase your sales dramatically with a website.
Reason #2: A Strategic Website Gives You Instant Authority and Credibility
People are going to learn about you on social media, but they’re going to be checking out your website to learn more about you. A website is kind of like your digital business card. It lets your audience know who you are, and it helps establish your expertise and credibility. People are much more likely to do business with someone they trust, right? The first place that potential customers go to check out your testimonials and how you can help them is on your website.
Reason #3: Showcase Your Work and Expertise
No matter what type of product or service you offer, a website is an amazing place to showcase your work exclusively. Your website can really do the talking for you by displaying an image gallery of your products or a portfolio of your work. It can house videos. A website can also really display testimonials nicely to further communicate your skills and why you are the right person to help your ideal client.
Reason #4: You Own It
This is so important to understand — you do not own any of those social media platforms that you’re on. That means if Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok decides to shut your account down one day, you lose all your followers — all those years of hard work building a following and brand, gone.
Now, this doesn’t mean that social media shouldn’t be part of your online business strategy, but it definitely should not be your only strategy. Your website is really your own little piece of the internet that you own and can control the narrative on. You’re not at the mercy of the constant algorithm changes on social media, and this is so important in today’s constantly changing social media algorithms.
Reason #5: A Website Helps You Expand Your Reach
When you optimize your website and content for search engines (also known as SEO), you can show up in Google and other search engine searches. This is huge! The more optimized your site, the more visible your business will become, and it’s a really cost-effective way to expand your reach and grow your business substantially. This can only be done with SEO on a website.
Reason #6: A Website Effectively Builds an Email List
An email list allows you to build that connection with your audience that you control. A website is a very powerful way to turn visitors into leads. Again, with all the algorithm changes occurring on social media sites these days, less and less of your audience is seeing your message.
As things shift to that more pay-to-play model where you have to pay for ads to get seen, you cannot be sure of how many of your followers on social media are actually seeing your posts and messages. So an email list is still the best way to reach your audience personally. When a potential visitor or customer lands on your website, you can provide them a free quick win in exchange for their email address.
Reason #7: A Website Improves Customer Service
Your website is available even when you are not. It’s accessible 24/7 to answer frequently asked questions and to promote your brand on autopilot. A well-planned website allows visitors to quickly discover who you are, how you can support them, what actions they need to take to work with you, and how to get in touch with you if they want more information.
Reason #8: Your Competitors Have One
Customers who have a problem will frequently head to the internet as a first step in their problem-solving journey. They do research by reading educational content (i.e., blog posts), watching videos, and listening to podcasts hosted on websites.
If and when they’re interested in buying or investing in something to help them solve their problem, they’re reading reviews and testimonials on your website before deciding to do business with you. In the digital infrastructure we live in, customers expect businesses to have a website and will often consider a business without one as less professional and reputable. If your competitor has a website, and you don’t, you could really be left behind.
Reason #9: A Website Has an Excellent ROI
A website is one of the best investments that you can make for your business, and it’s very likely that you will earn back that website investment quite quickly. The cost of web design does vary, but now it is easier than ever to get an affordable, professionally designed website template that you can DIY. You don’t need to be tech-savvy or have a huge budget — it could not be simpler!
Conclusion
So there you go — nine reasons why your business needs a website. You now know the why, but what about the how? How do you actually create a website?
I know it can feel super overwhelming and confusing to know where or how to start when it comes to building a website for your business. If you’re feeling overwhelmed about creating a website — whether you’re tech-challenged, short on time, or on a budget — don’t worry. A well-planned website can be up and running in just a few weeks, not months or years. Focus on strategy, include the essentials to convert visitors into customers, and take it step by step.
And if you are not a tech person and want someone to design and develop your business website, let’s connect with me!
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