Your website or your business card, which is more important? Well, if you are looking to succeed then a website is what you need. It’s no secret that electronic media has replaced printed business cards and – although they are good for advertisement – they come with many limitations. Technology has done so much good for all businesses, big and small and a well built website has become the key to success. A business card can only briefly introduce who you are and of the 10 billion business cards printed each year, 8 billion cards end up in the bin within a week. This statistic alone helps to demonstrate why your website is more important than your business card, but let’s take a deeper look.
Constant updates
If you are needing to update your business card – even for the smallest change – you have to order a whole new set and are limited to any additional information that may be needed. Any errors or updates required on the card will also cost you. You are restricted to only having things like your name, logo, contact information and possibly an address on there – meaning people can’t really get to know who you are. Whereas a website can be changed, updated and added to at any time. Old information can be deleted at the click of a button and additional information added straight away; as well as having room for both imagination and creativity to improve your company’s brand. Updated website content keeps customers engaged and your ranking high. Having a website also means you can be posting regular blogs, promotions and quality content.
The sky is the limit
When it comes to websites, the sky really is the limit. You have the power to reach an audience on a global scale and advertise to different countries. Whereas a business card can only be passed around if it is done in person – which can be hard if you’re wanting to connect with people on the other side of the world. A website is there to assist you in drawing customers in without you having to physically find them whilst also helping you to build a strong online presence. Plus they can be shared across multiple social media channels which is going to help increase your traffic. Your website is a business card that never sleeps; it is constantly being browsed on, searched and looked at no matter the place or the time of day.
Customer feedback
Customer feedback is the key to improvement; without it you will never know what is working and what isn’t. A website can help prompt that feedback and essentially be the reason your business continues to develop. A business card can’t ensure instant customer feedback – it isn’t much help to know whether or not someone likes your phone number or email address. Whereas a website can be loaded with things such as FAQ’s, shipping information and customer testimonials.
Accessibility
The great thing about a website is anyone can find you, regardless of the time or place – ultimately allowing someone 24/7 access. By providing this you are also helping to expand your business to locations worldwide. When it comes to business cards you must be physically handing them out in order for them to be seen and they can only show a snippet of the information that a website can. The bottom line is that a website equals better outreach.
Affordable marketing
In marketing things can go wrong – that may be a spelling mistake, the wrong logo or an incorrect phone number, but making mistakes on a business card will cost you. Website information can be rapidly changed in real time, without the need to wait for any printed products to arrive. A website also contains your products, services and content that provides the user with added value. By keeping this content up to date, you’ll find that the search engines will rank your website highly and promote your brand.
Builds brand awareness
A website makes it a lot easier for your audience to understand and enhance the business as well as allowing them to get in touch – overall giving a better view of the business. A solid online presence is the best way to gain the trust of your customers and grow your brand. Consistent interaction with customers is key to gaining and keeping that trust. A website also consists of many different sections that allow you to introduce your company, discuss your values and show someone why working with your products or services are beneficial to them.
So, business card or website? From taking a look at the above, it is easy to see why your website is more important than your business card. A website allows you to push out high quality content, get creative, use customer feedback to improve, stay on budget and be seen in all parts of the world. Of course for some things a business card is extremely useful but it shouldn’t be your only form of marketing. They are good to hand out at events or keep in a shop as a form of advertisement but for your target audience to turn into customers, you need a strong website for them to visit.
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 34740 or email us at info@worcesterwebstudio.com to see how we can help.
