Thinking about getting rid of your website or not yet convinced you even need one? Maybe it’s just hard to see exactly how a website can ultimately help? There are many reasons why business websites are still needed today but we’ve narrowed down our list to 8 of the most important, just for you.
If you want to compete in the marketplace, you need an online home base. Here are 8 reasons why businesses today still need a website:
1. So Search Engines Can Find You
Local search engine visibility lets customers find your business online. Since a website is vital for accessing info. on your business, this is why your web page’s content is THE best way search engines can index and rank you.
Last year a small rock cracked my windshield on the freeway. After I pulled over, guess what I did next? No, I didn’t take my phone out and log onto Facebook to find someone to fix it. I googled “local windshield repair” and looked for a company that was close by. All the repair shops within my search results had a website. Today, local customers and B2B’s simply have that expectation that any legitimate operation should have one.
Think of all the lost opportunities to your competitor down the street just because you didn’t have a website? Having a business website lets search engines find and list you in their results.
Bottom line: Your website is simply the best way to let customers know you exist. Search ability is the most efficient way to connect your business with clients using a search engine and one of the primary reasons you need a website.
2. Your Business URL Establishes Your Credibility
Your domain URL functions as the primary source for company emails and referrals. Having a website shows your business is legitimate, and makes it easier for people to share your link online. When my family rescued our dog I looked up local veterinarians. There were three that popped up within a vet listing, but only 1 had a website. Take a guess on which one I chose?
Bottom line: your URL is the professional choice when prospecting clients. Imagine how confident you’d be when giving out your online address after pitching your services, versus giving out a Google My Business listing, or your Facebook link? Yikes, don’t do that. Your business still needs a website.
3. You Control Your Business Content
The web pages of your website should hold all your company’s information, like what you do, who you help, and so on. It’s also a place to list all the benefits of your product or service so that visitors know what’s in it for them. Any information you decide to include can be updated quickly and easily all from one central location, your website.
A business website gives you freedom to inform your clients with company information and exciting news. Try finding new or updated information from your Facebook business profile. Content that’s updated regularly increases your relevance score and makes it easier for link building– both of which factors into SEO for rankings.
Bottom line: An optimized site that you get to control improves your rankings in search results. See why your business still needs a website?
4. Gives You Lead Conversion
Same goes for information regarding the type of service you offer. Instead of using a site like Travelocity, I recently booked a cabin directly from the company’s website url I found while searching. Lodging businesses prefer if you work with them directly (since they don’t have to pay outside fees) and will even reward you for it. I was able to see the exact cabin I wanted, current photos, amenities, a map for its precise locale to other businesses, all of which I couldn’t find anywhere else outside their website. I was even offered a discount just for using their “contact us” link.
Bottom line: Want more lead conversions? Since I was further down the sales funnel I was advanced one step closer to a sale after given an incentive to book. This is a great example of your website converting a lead into a paying customer.
5. Customer Service
Having your own website allows you to address all service issues in an organized and efficient manner.
What if they want to return an item or have questions on delivery times? Isn’t it more realistic to start searching for info on your website’s FAQ list, than on your Yelp listing?
Bottom line: Keeping your website’s FAQ page updated, or having a contact link available is far more time efficient for clients to use, than if they were to take their customer service issues onto your Facebook profile.
6. Creates An Impression
Did you know it only takes a fraction of a second to form an opinion about your website and therefore on your company? That doesn’t leave you with a lot of time.
That’s why making a good impression with your website should be among your first orders of business.
Bottom line: You’ll never know how many leads are lost to your competitor based on a bad first impression. So YES. First impressions do matter. It really does, and it can last a lifetime. Prioritize on making a positive one.
7. Building Your Brand
Who are you and what’s your company’s story? Yes, your website is home to building your brand. Think of every day as an opportunity to show what makes your company special.
Come up with your own unique feature that speaks to your brand and include it onto your website. It’s next to impossible to establish a professional and reliable image for your business without one.
Your website serves as your main hub, your web storefront, your online business card that you own outright. It’s where your clients will look to and get a feel for your business.
Bottom line: As your online headquarters, your website is the proper place to showcase your brand’s voice, company values and culture. You can also establish your role as an authority figure within your industry directly from having a website.
8. Third Party Sites
A website serves as a main hub and frees you from having to rely on third party review sites, their practices, rules and policies. For example, social media channels like Yelp or Facebook don’t contain all of your company’s info, news and services. Your information is limited to whatever they decide to display.
What if your business relied solely on your Facebook business page? And what happens if FB decides to remove your profile one day or simply breaks down for an unspecified time? You’re not in control of your visibility there. Imagine all the opportunities lost within that time frame?
Or what if your potential customer doesn’t even have a Facebook listing or participate in any other of those social media platforms? You could be missing out on a real opportunity simply because they’re not too social online.
You know what you don’t need a social media profile for? Googling and visiting a website. Ha!
Do you see how not having a website can be costing you potential clients and money? Your website is the best way your customers will find you.
Bottom line: It makes better sense to have a website function as your primary online presence. If something changes with one of the social media or directory channels branching off from it, you can still rely on your central hub, your website.
So, Are You Ready To Take the Next Step?
If you don’t have a website, you really need one…and you needed one yesterday. But not just any site will do. You need a powerful, fully functional and optimized website. If you don’t know where to start, don’t worry. It can be an overwhelming task.
If you want to establish your company’s web credibility we can help with that and assist you along the design and build process. We’ll show you how to use your website as a marketing channel and help you run FB ads that can land you more business.
We’re currently offering a free website mock up to companies who want to stand out and get more leads. We’ll make a rough draft of your new website for you to approve. See if you qualify for this special offer. Just click here to get started.
