As a business owner, it can be very challenging to make time for the things that make a huge impact to our customers, partners, and vendors. Now, more than ever, it is imperative to create and maintain an online presence, which is why every business needs a website! Maybe you’ve been putting it off for a while, but let’s change that.
Shameless plug: We offer a website design services.
These days, practically everyone looking to buy your products and/or services expects you to have a website if you are to be considered a “real” business. In fact, it is every bit as important as having a business card in some respects.
So, we know a website will bring legitimacy to your business that an offline business simply cannot replicate. Did you know that your website is also an extension of your company’s brand identity? According to the American Marketing Association, a company’s brand is the “name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller’s goods or service as distinct from those of other sellers,”
Everything your customers buy, consume, experience or interact with is part of this brand identity. Your website should help enhance your overall message.
Speaking of messages, your website also serves as the primary hub for marketing activities online, and a huge reason why every business needs a website. Without a website, you’re not able to effectively communicate with and capture potential leads.
Consider the difference between asking people to contact you on a Facebook post versus linking a Facebook post to a form. The latter is an example of using your website as an effective marketing tool, because your leads will be well organized and logged in your database, as opposed to scattered across social media.
It might not sound like a big deal if you don’t have a lot of leads today. However, looking towards the future you’ll want a system like this in place since it ultimately makes long-term growth and management so much easier.
Your website can act as a tireless educator on all of your company’s products and services. It’s there, available 24/7 to provide answers to the questions your customers need to make buying decisions. According to the Corporate Executive Board, 57% of the purchase decision is already complete before the customer even calls the supplier. Where does the buyer get this information? Why, from research, of course. Research on websites in areas such as your company blog, to be exact.
Okay. You’ve got some customers and they’re happy with you, but what happens if they have a problem? Do you have a plan in place to be there for them even after the sales process is complete? If your answer doesn’t include your website’s support section, then you are missing out.
Not only is your website one of the first places a client will attempt to reach out to you, it might actually help both you and them avoid extra phone calls and emails by answering their questions without any additional contact needed.
Getting started with your website can seem like a difficult task, but fortunately there are several options available to you:
(Hint: we recommend the last option.)