Let’s face it; almost everything is going digital today. The digitalization wave has hit different spheres, and business has been at the forefront. According to statistics, 81% of people research a company, product, or service on the internet before making a purchase decision.
To get started, businesses can opt for services like managed WordPress hosting, which is ideal for small and mid-size firms. Unfortunately, some business manages still think that websites are meant for e-commerce websites. Here are several reasons why every small business needs a website.
1. Adds credibility to your business
According to statistics, the average American spends about 3 hours each day on their smartphone. A considerable amount of this time is spent searching for products and services that they are interested in – they expect companies to have an online presence. Finding your business website helps users become familiar with your products or services, which in turn builds credibility.
Users will, therefore, be most likely to buy from your business as they consider others without an online presence as less professional.
2. Keeps you in competition with other business
Most companies have embraced digitalization and taken advantage of websites and social media platforms to reach a wider audience. This automatically means that if you don’t have a website for your business, you will have a hard time competing with them.
Businesses with a rich online presence are also able to get more feedback from their consumers about the products and services that they are offering. They can then use this information to improve their services and stay ahead of the competition. They can also be able to keep track of competitors and use the data to make more informed decisions.
3. Helps capitalize on an active marketing channel
Back in the day, companies used TV ads, billboards, radios, and even flyers to market their products. Although a number of those techniques are still being used, the majority of the organizations have turned to websites and social media platforms. Those that still use billboards and TV adverts also have websites where they can redirect potential customers.
Small businesses, however, lack funds to market using all these channels. One of the most effective ways of digital marketing is combining social media with a website.
Businesses usually attract interest through social media and then redirect the traffic to their websites, which usually draw more confidence than social media.
Since most users search for products and services before they purchase, small businesses can also use SEO to improve their website ranking on Google. This provides an effective method of drawing new customers as well as building brand awareness. They can then use analytics to keep track of the results.
4. Better communication and feedback
Websites allow for effective communication between the customers and management. The inclusion of customer support options such as live chat will enable businesses to respond to inquiries efficiently and also get feedback from their consumers. In cases where live chat is not possible, ticketing can also be used to provide support as well as receive feedback.
The business can then make improvements and adjustments to better the trading environment based on feedback. Apart from this, you can also provide support through FAQs on the website. This allows users to get feedback about some of the common questions that they may have about your business, products, or services.
5. Gives you control
Websites are considered the best platforms for shaping up the perception of businesses in ways much better than social media platforms can accomplish. Using websites, business managers can manage and dictate what the audience sees or gets access to. Besides, they can track and monitor customer preferences and interests.
With analytic tools, businesses can identify their customer base, see what they prefer, hours they frequently visit, and even the frequent searches. To businesses, this type of data is essential as it helps them know where to focus and put more resources. In a way, the website helps the company to stay ahead and position itself such that it can reach its customers easily, and at the same time, enhance its reputation.