We are in an age where, before a buyer purchases a product or
service, they Google it to find out more about it. Anyone who wants to
grow their brand, no matter how small your business is, needs a website.
Building a website has also become cheap. You do not need a lot of
money and you don't need to be a coder or designer to own one.
Having
a website for your small business is not just about selling your
products or services online- it also provides value to your customers
and is a form of free advertising. If I haven't convinced you yet, then
the following are reasons why you should get one today.
Ten reasons why you need a website for your small business
- Customers expect you to be online
Today, almost everyone is using the internet to get information. Their
decision on what to buy and where to get it can be accessed through
their smartphones and tablets. A website will create a presence for your
business. Your prospective clients can then learn more about your
product/ service. A website provides you an opportunity to show concern
for your customers, communicate about your brand and convey your
professionalism.
Today's customer also expects their brand to
be online and provide useful content about the business on a digital
platform. In fact, most customers will visit a brand's website to find
out about it. If you are yet to get a website, then chances are that
your customer will find another business that has a website.
- You product/ service appears on search results
According to research, 81% of buyers conduct online research before
purchasing a product or service. This means that if a customer needs a
handbag, they will key in "quality handbags". If they know exactly what
they want, then they might key in "Quality leather handbags in Kenya".
If your business sells handbags, then you will show up in search results
for these keywords if you optimize them. Having a website is not
enough, you must optimize it so that you show up at the top of Google
results for keywords or relevant keywords when potential customers do a
search. To optimize your website for search, do things like using long
tail keywords, include tags, meta descriptions and titles.
- A website legitimizes your website
The website offers some sort of social proof and builds trusts with your
customers. It allows you to provide your customers and prospective
customers on the history of your business, your specialization and
expertise. The website will allow your consumers to learn more about
your business especially if you put up customer testimonials. This helps
to impress potential buyers since most buyers are influenced by online
reviews when it comes to purchasing products.
- A website is an online billboard
A website will give you an online presence. You have an opportunity to
introduce your small business to potential buyers and allow your
customers to find you through relevant keywords. This, however, will
depend on the marketing you put into your website through Search engine
optimization, social media, blogging and online advertising.
- It allows you to collect data and generate leads
An online presence allows you to collect data on your customers, make
plans for your products and get feedback from customers. Features like
Google Analytics, Facebook analytics etc. allow you to find out the
demographics of your customers, the product that is selling and make
plans on how to improve on the services/ products you offer.
If
you get people to subscribe to your website through newsletters, blog
posts or eBooks, then you can reach out to them more easily.
- Ease of contact
Customers can contact you easily via a website. Sometimes, your phone
number may not be working, but with an online presence, customers can
contact you with ease when they need to learn about your business. This
will, however, only work if you provide links to your social media pages
or offer a chat service on your website.
- Allows you to showcase and sell your products
A website allows you to display the products you offer or outline them
in detail using images and videos. You can also offer tutorials using
PDF instructions or videos so that your customers do not need to go
elsewhere to get information after purchasing the product.
An
online presence also gives your customers a convenient shopping
experience. This is because it offers them different avenues to interact
with you. For example, you can use the website to sell your products
online. This is an easy way to get products to your customers by
providing deliveries either at a discounted or free price.
- It leverages your social networks.
Do I need a website for my business if I have a Facebook page? This is a
question, most people ask. The answer is YES. Yes, you need a website
even though you have a Facebook page. Social media allows you to reach a
larger audience and create buzz around your business through shares and
likes. When people need to know more about your product, they will need
to visit your website. By providing a link to your website on your
Facebook page, you legitimize your business.
- Allows you to compete with the big guys in your industry.
Chances are high that your competitor has a website. Consumers will, of
course, start their buying journey either through social networks, from
their peers or through research. Once they decide they want to buy a
certain product or service, they start researching and 81% of them will
go online to find reviews, educational information, and testimonials.
If
you do not have a website for your small business, then you cannot
compete on the same level as your competitors. You are also giving
potential customers a reason to purchase from your competitors.
- Allows you to share news easily and gives you control of the narrative
You can easily post developments, news or updates on your website
without having to spend money on newspaper and TV ads. Keeping a blog
will allow you to keep your website fresh with new content that allows
Google to crawl your website for search results. A blog also allows you
to provide consumers with information on the product or service you are
offering, showcase your expertise on the topic, provide tips on topics
relevant to your business to consumers, and share insights.
Social
media channels may not allow you to fully control the narrative on your
business, but by having a website and a blog, you can influence
perception by creating your own story. The website also allows you to
put up messages, your mission, vision and personality to your audience
much faster than print ads would.
Why don't you have a website?
Most
people without a website claim they have enough business and a website
would overwhelm them with more work. I don't how this is a good reason,
because more work means that you can now become an employer and offer so
many people out there without jobs the opportunity to serve your
customers. Websites offer you more business in today's world so get one
today.
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