Should Your Small Business Have a Website?
The answer is an emphatic “yes!” The bottom line is that today your customers expect you to have a website.
What! No website? Without a business website, potential customers form a certain view of your company, and it’s not favorable. Whether it’s legitimate or not, “no website” says one or more of the following:
- You don’t believe in the value of technology.
- You’re too lazy to put together a website.
- You’re too unorganized to make it happen.
- You can’t afford to pay for a website.
- You’re going out of business or are already closed.
- You don’t have anything to say to your customers.
- Your competitors are better.
- You think social media is good enough.
- You don’t have anything new and exciting to offer.
- Plus, about a dozen other things you don’t want folks thinking about your business.
If your business doesn’t have a website, today’s technological customers may go somewhere else. You see, 75% of them will determine your company’s credibility based on your website.
So, what does that mean if you have no website?
That means less business for you.
Last year, Google found that at any given point in time, 84% of Americans are shopping for something. Thus, an online presence and particularly a professionally designed and maintained business website are essential for marketing your small business.
How Do Consumers Find Information?
Today—and by today, we can say, especially in the midst of a pandemic—customers want to be able to find information about your company quickly and intuitively from your business website. Again, that’s just expected, meaning that it is standard practice.
Your customers expect an easy-to-use menu and navigation, as well as readily available contact info. They want a website that makes sense and one in which they can click a few times to arrive at the content they need.
Consumers conduct research online before they make a purchase—even if it’s to buy something they want to pick up down the street at your store. They’re verifying that you have the item in stock, that you’re open, and what the item will cost.
If you don’t have a website (or one that’s easy to use), you’re sending a message that the doors are locked, the lights are off, and their patronage isn’t required.
Your customers and prospects are living online. That’s even more true as the coronavirus pandemic makes in-person business harder to safely conduct. As a result, your small business must have a presence. 93% of online experiences start with a search engine, and 47% of people click on one of the first three listings.
Over 60% of Small Businesses Don’t Have A Website
While it might bring you some comfort to know you are in the majority, you’re losing out on sales, and that’s only going to continue to a greater degree.
Executing an online advertising strategy is vital for businesses in a post-coronavirus world. As consumers migrated to online shopping during the pandemic, it has become less expensive for businesses to purchase digital advertising.
Takeaway
There’s never been a more opportune or more critical time to invest in a website for your business. A website offers a wide variety of benefits for small businesses, and most of these will grow in value year over year.
The argument for your small business to invest today in a website has never been more compelling. Your customers are definitely spending more time online. That means increased opportunities to get your message in front of prospective clients and customers.
Playbook Public Relations can help your small business get results. Let us put together a digital marketing and advertising campaign during the pandemic to get your company increased web traffic and more business. Our market knowledge and support team will provide your company with the best multi-faceted publicity or marketing campaign. Let us create a “playbook” for your business.
Contact Playbook Public Relations today in Tampa, Florida at (813) 789-7122 or use our web contact form.
