Consumer behavior has changed over time to adapt to the evolving technology in the digital age. For example, the dense yellow pages, which were popular so long ago, have been replaced by online directories with the discovery of the World Wide Web.
Today, the number of people using the Internet to search for business has multiplied, and yellow pages have become almost dusty. According to Adaptive Marketing, in 2017, 97% of people searched online to find a local business near them. Therefore, if you want to grow your business in front of the right audience, you need to be found online - meaning you must have a website. This blog discusses the top 10 reasons why your business needs a website in 2021 regardless of the industry you live in.
#1: Your Customers Expect It
Taking the previous issue into account, your technology-savvy customers expect you to have a website to search for more information about your business. Like you, your website helps you build a business, increase brand retrieval, promote goals in front of customers and audiences, as well as provide strong marketing messages. Think of it this way, your website delivers your marketing message 24 hours a day, 365 days a year! In addition to e-commerce websites, most professional websites are information-based and try to address the issues of visitors' pain.
#2: Offers Social Proof
Customer behavior is mostly driven by what they say about your business. No matter, if your brand is rated 5-star on review sites like Foursquare or Yelp, people expect to see your website for more information about the brand. Since potential buyers are already looking for you online, this site is a great way to impress potential buyers and provide social proof, including customer testimonials.
#3: Control the Narrative
While it’s hard to control what people are saying about you, you can influence your brand perception by writing your own story on the website. A website is a much more effective way to help brands promote their message, vision, and mission than print ads or snail mail brochures. According to SEOTribunal, Google has 5.6 billion searches per day and 63,000 searches per second on any given day. Imagine, with this kind of search volume, there is someone online looking for the right service for you right now. If you don't have a website, guess who will get the business? Of course, you don't! But the side competitor, which has a great spectacular search-optimized website.
#4: Maximize ROI
In the age of digital transformation, creating a website on free tools like WordPress.com doesn’t cost too much money, but provides more bang for your buck. A search-engine-optimized website lets you stay in front of thousands of potential customers without spending too much. This can help you reach a larger target audience for the promotion of your services or products. Website content also influences decision-making and commercial transactions, no matter what industry you are in.
#5: Website Ads To Company’s Credibility
If you want to show the world that you take your business seriously, now is the time to invest in a professional website. In an age when more than 50% of smartphone users discover a new company or product while searching on their smartphone, not having a website can damage your credibility. According to a survey, 75% of online users agree to judge a company's credibility based on the design of its website. Ultimately, people can get involved with an organization they can trust, and the website is a stepping stone to building that relationship.
#6: Have More Constructive Conversations
The website is your platform for your potential customers to answer all the basic questions about your business and brand. This is especially true for B2B marketing agencies. When people visit your website, they can find answers to basic questions like your key, your products/solutions, your location, contact details, etc. Once they are satisfied with these, they will decide not to follow either. Just remember, keep it simple and concise when you provide this kind of information as customers expect instant satisfaction these days.
#7: Compete With Other Industry Goliaths
Did you know that having a website gives you a fair chance to compete with the giants of your industry? When a customized website is created, it can rank higher and be in the right place at the right time. Bidding for the right keywords can increase your website's traffic and influence your customer's journey, which usually starts with research, suggestions, and reviews. A prominent position on the search results page is one of the many ways to challenge your industry goals. Therefore, if you do not dominate the Internet, you are giving your customers a reason to buy from the competition.
#8: Fading Social Media Reach
If you think having a page on social media is enough to attract new customers, think again. Having a Facebook page is not enough, because every other business has it. Facebook claims that in 2018 people spent 50 million fewer hours on Facebook than in their previous year. Therefore, many companies are now switching to building websites instead of relying solely on social media networks. While there is potential for businesses to grow on social media networks, banking on them alone can be a huge mistake to spend in the years to come.
#9: Expand Your Working Hours
Having a website means your content is available for their convenience at any time of the day. So whether someone visits your website at night or during the day, in some way you are always interacting with them and saying goodbye to this ‘closed for business’ sign. Being always accessible supports marketing and dramatically increases sales, and this is especially true for e-commerce companies. It also is a step towards effective customer service and relationship building, especially if you have AI-powered chatbots enabled on your website that can solve the basic problems of your customers when they need it the most.
#10. Showcase Your Offers
It cannot be stressed enough that any website is the first interaction of your target audience with your brand. How you control the position of your business. Add this, you can not only showcase your offers with features but also provide short video tutorials or downloadable PDF instructions. You can also highlight your awards, testimonials, and all the features that might reduce your audience's pain points. This increases the average time your customers spend on the website and probably influences their decision to contact you.
Tips to Get Started
Now that you understand why there is a website, let's take a look at some ways to get started. First things first, choose a web hosting service.
Choose a Domain Name
Ideally, your domain name should be your company name. If this is not available, you can choose a domain name that reflects your business line. Make the domain name interesting and unique. Domain names are a powerful marketing tool that you should make full use of.
Web Hosting Service
Choose a reliable web hosting service with a strong reputation. Choose a service provider that can quickly and economically adjust to the changes. This will be effective especially when your business is expanding, shrinking, or having other important updates.
Website Design
Website designing should be a product of various enchanting sessions like building it which is not as easy as you think. Make sure your website template is easy to navigate and does not match your competitors. After all, you don’t want your business to look like your competition.
Final Takeaway
The cost of being left behind is much higher than getting a website
Professionally designed, brand-differentiating websites are important to increase sales, increase the bottom line and grow your business. This gives you the opportunity to be in front of the right target audience with your brand story. Moreover, a basic website costs a few pennies and can provide huge revenue in the long run.
So instead of asking why your business needs a website, ask why not!
