Do you really Need a Website?
If your business got by without a website until now, you might be thinking about whether having one is necessary or not.
Simply put, there hasn’t been a better moment for it. A site offers numerous benefits, almost all gain value year after year, much like the Internet itself.
However, in some situations, a website is not required for your business.
This article will help you decide whether or not a website is worthwhile.
Cases When a Website is not ESSENTIAL
Building an entirely new website is frequently one of the first steps taken by business owners after finishing their business plan. However, there are a few instances where a website is unnecessary and even harmful to your business.
Here are a couple of examples.
- First, if you are starting a new business and have not yet developed a business and marketing plan. Building a website as a means of expanding your business is appealing. Figuring out the elements of your business while designing your website sounds like a good plan. If you continue on this path, you will likely realize that your website does not serve your business purpose and may even become a limitation for your business.
- Another situation in which a website is not essential is when you are starting a new business and only have enough money to invest in the costs of getting started. Social media tools are now widely available. If you learn how to make the most of them, a website may become secondary—at least at the begining.
- If your target audience is not online, you may not need a website. To be sure, this is unusual given that 90% of adults in the United States use the internet. This may be the case if you primarily serve the elderly, rural, or financially disadvantaged populations.
- Finally, if you’ve already established a successful social media-based brand and your cash flow is almost entirely dependent on growing your social network, a website may be unnecessary. This is especially true for social media influencers who do not sell their own products or run a blog.
The importance of having a website
Even if a website isn’t required for your business to function, potential customers often expect one.
A professional website proves your credibility by informing potential clients that you are serious about your business while offering more information about your brand and services.
Consider this: whenever a potential customer is interested in your brand, they will have questions. And they will consider your website as a valuable resource for answers.
You can keep all of the information they need to know before making a decision organized on your website, including information about your services, pricing, working hours, policies, next steps, contact information, and more. This will not all fit on your social media pages.
9 Reasons why you need a website
1. A website makes you look professional
84% of today’s consumers believe that having a website makes your company more credible than having only social media profiles. Your website is also an excellent place to highlight any professional certifications or awards your company has received.
2. Your Website can either Attract -or repeal people
Your website can also be used to clearly define important information about yourself, your working style, and your services. As a result, your website will serve as a screening tool to ensure that you are attracting the right type of people for your business. You will save time, money, and headaches as a result of this.
3. You can showcase your services
You can thoroughly demonstrate to prospective clients what they will receive if they work with you. On your website, you can use dedicated pages for each service to display descriptions and benefits of your Services.
4. You can Display Social Proof
Feature your best reviews and/or testimonials prominently on your website to build social proof.
5. Encourages them to contact you
A website is a handy way to provide your contact details for potential customers. When you plan your website, you can create paths that guide them to reach out to you easily.
7. Establishes your place in your industry
As of 2021, 81% of customers conduct online research before making a purchase. In other words, if your competitors are online while you are not, your competitors will have the first interactions with customers.
Creating a website allows you to share details about your business, establish your place in the marketplace, and connect with customers who require your services.
8. Not only for Tech Savvy Business Owners
Modern website builders make it simple to create and maintain websites without any programming required. Even WordPress, the most famous framework for creating websites, has switched to a block editor.
9. Ensures you stay Competitive
By January 2021, nearly 59.5% of the world’s population had access to the Internet. In many countries, that statistic goes higher. In the United States, for example, more than 90% of people are online.
If you don’t have a website, you miss the opportunity of becoming visible to these clients. Unless you invest in a website, your business will become invisible to everyone as we move further into the digital era.
So, in order to thrive in this increasingly digital age, your business must go online.
So, do every business need a website?
In short, the answer no. But think of it this way: your customers and your competitors are online, and if you’re not there, your competitors and your customers will connect.
If you are ready to start working in your website, download the Website Strategy Workbook and take te first step!