TOP 5 ADVANTAGES OF SMALL BUSINESS WEBSITES
why now is the best time to have a website
In today’s world , most consumers are looking online for information that will help them make purchasing decisions. In fact, consumers will research for product information before they make a purchase online or in the store. This buying behaviour trend emphasises the importance of a website in today’s businesses.
Most people would assume that by now companies would have a website. The reality is most companies still don’t see the value of having a website for their business. Studies show that 50% of small businesses don’t have a website.
Many small business owners make a mistake of not working on their brand until they gain traction.
Why is a website a critical tool for any type of business? a website is a powerful marketing platform and a properly developed and, designed website can give a company a competitive advantage in the specific niche industry.
1. Improve business credibility
A website is a great way to share your brand story with your audience. It gives your business identity and is virtual proof that it exists; having a Facebook page alone is not enough to build your credibility. 36% of clients prefer to deal with businesses that have websites. By contrast, only 21 % will work with a business without a website.
The home page of a website identifies your branded value proposition, the About US page tells visitors all about the business and the Contact US page informs everyone how to get in touch with you.
2. Own your name
Rather than just being the ‘’corner shop’’ down the street, having a website(domain) helps you to stake your claim to your business name and separates you from the get-rich-quick-scheme platforms out there. Your brand says, everything about you, your values, your identity, and what you promise to deliver.
Whether you actually sell products online or not, a website gives the impression that you are serious and ready to do business.
As you build your business and develop your website with quality content, your domain name will become more recognizable in search engines like Google and draw customers in your direction. You can also get a unique business email that will add to that sense of branding as well (yourname@businessexample.com).
3. Educate the Market of your Business
If your business is still using the traditional forms of marketing print ads, flyers and distribution Point-of-Purchase materials you are behind the bandwagon effect.
Online marketing is faster, more efficient and inexpensive. Potential customers are searching online for common answers they have to a problem.
A website can act as an online brochure or catalogue that provides customers with an extensive how-to-guide that answers most, if not all, questions they might have to the product. Saving the business time and money on advertising that only covers a specific region.
4. Around the clock availability
Having a website means your products are available all the time on the internet and customers can access your product information easily searching through a massive database of products and services available. Customers can see actual prices, build an order over several days and email their friends and families a ‘’wish list’’.
A website can also be an active and passive tool for generating income. For instance, having an e-commerce website allows your customers to pay for and checkout goods and services right away.
With your website you are able to track customer preferences, thus delivering tailor-made marketing for each user.
5. Offer Mobile-Friendliness website
Research shows that mobile users have taken over the amount of time peruse to 130% increase since 2013 according to broadbandsearch.net. Meaning that creating a mobile-friendly website (Responsive website) is is essential. As a business you want your visitors to have a consistent and engaging user experience on any device. This can give a small business a boost in visibility, competitiveness, and increased sales.
If you don’t have a website yet m, now is the perfect time to get started on it. While it is possible for your business to succeed without a website, a web presence can help you open many doors.
Ready to kick off your website with a new design or even starting from scratch?
Let’s start a new project together www.ohtech.co.za