With 4.95 billion active internet users and significant advancements in technology, every business needs a website – it’s a no brainer in this day and age. The internet plays a huge part in all aspects of our day to day lives, especially when it comes to purchasing products, finding services or searching for businesses. If your business is currently running without a website or online presence then let’s take a look at what your business misses by not having a website.
Your website plays a crucial part in attracting new customers and improving your search engine optimisation (SEO) because when people are searching for a product or service and aren’t sure what to go for, they can take a look at your website and where you rank with Google and make an informed decision. A well optimised website is a way to put your business ‘on the shelf’ to browse when a user is looking for a business that offers what they are wanting.
An online shop front
Having a website is one of the best ways to publish your business online and connect with potential customers but without one you will miss out on traffic and struggle to give your business a strong presence. It is impossible to simply rely on word-of-mouth referrals nowadays as people use the internet to search for what they are looking for and even those that are referred by a friend will still turn to your website to find more information. Your business becomes virtually invisible to the billions of active internet users if you don’t have an internet presence and you will struggle to reach a broader audience. A website helps you to showcase products and services, generate leads and entice more users to use your services or even visit your physical store if you have one. It also provides your target audience with an understanding of exactly who you are, what you do and the services that you offer.
Credibility
It’s simple, having a website will increase your businesses credibility. Many people will search for you on the internet so if they can’t find a website they may start to question your legitimacy as a business or rethink whether they want to use your business or not – think about, how many times have you gone elsewhere if a business had no online presence at all? A website is the perfect opportunity to make an impactful and positive first impression to your consumers, it provides them with peace of mind that you are a real business and the information that they need to know about who you are and what you do. It also allows you to stand out against your competitors and clearly communicate quality, helpful information to your consumers. Even if your website isn’t necessarily generating high sales it can still add to your credibility and help to gain customer trust and loyalty.
Competition
Every business has a competitor and the last thing you want is to miss out on an opportunity and have it gained by the competition – this becomes a reality if your business has no website because chances are, they do. An optimised website helps to enhance the image of your business and ensures you are standing out against your competitors; this is because your website will be showcasing informative, responsive and engaging content that helps to drive visitors to your business and turn them into long-lasting loyal customers.
New relationships
An important part of marketing is being able to build relationships with your users but good news, websites are the perfect way to do this. Having an engaging website adds a personal touch to the business and makes the customers feel satisfied and supported when searching your business; this is why many people describe websites as a starting place to connect with new customers. Having a website that you regularly update and add value to is an easy way to retain active customers for a long period of time and also drive new customers to the business. Clearly demonstrating your company’s values, visions and characteristics helps to develop loyalty and trust with your customers which is going to increase the chances of them using your services or buying your products because you have clearly established who you are and what you do. Trust also plays a big part in your marketing because without it customers won’t purchase items or services from your business as they may feel that your business isn’t real or that it isn’t reliable.
Generating sales
Your website is visible 24/7, meaning it is a valuable marketing asset and can be seen by billions of people at any point of the day but without a website you are reducing any possibilities of attracting new customers. When a business is set up the goal is to always gain customers and make sales, this can only happen if you have a website because it gives you more opportunity to reach more and more customers and increase your businesses revenue, leads and sales. Think about it like this, the more opportunities you have to reach consumers, the more opportunities you have to make a sale – we promise, it really can be this simple!
It’s easy to see that without a website your business will miss out; you will struggle to gain credibility, build a presence, generate sales, build new relationships and compete against your competitors. Having a business in a generation that strongly uses the internet means you need to be taking the time and effort to have the best online presence that you possibly can in order to be seen by your target audience.
Here at Worcester Web Studio, we have a wealth of knowledge in both website design and digital marketing. Our team’s goal is to ensure that your marketing is helping your business to succeed. Call us today on 01905 347400 or email us at info@worcesterwebstudio.com to see how we can help.
