Do I need a website for my business?

A website has quickly become an essential to business owners; over recent years – more and more businesses have found themselves investing in a website due to the continuous benefits they provide. Most people will question whether they need a website if they have managed for years without one; but times are changing and businesses need to as well. Here we’ve created a list of our ‘Top 5’ reasons why you should have a website for your business and the benefits they can bring you and your customers.

1. Wider Reach

Probably one of the biggest benefits to having a website for your business is the amount of people it can reach! Recent studies have shown that 97% of users searched online to find a local business; having a website and being present when people search relevant terms, is key in bringing in new customers. There are a range of terms and keywords that will link people’s searches to your site, so focusing on a well optimised site and SEO content can increase your clientele tremendously. As many businesses will know, customer turnover can be a big downfall – so by ensuring you reach a wider audience and bring in new customers, a website is a massive help in maintaining your company.

2. Ease of Use

Not only does a website have benefits for your business, it also does for your customers. When creating a site, you need to collate a lot of content to go on it; this includes the likes of your products/services, information about your business and contact details. With this now all being in one place, any potential new customers can find out whatever they need to about you – something they wouldn’t be able to do if your website wasn’t there! Additionally, having a website can make running your business easier, as you can keep track of products with ease and update any information in a matter of minutes.

3. Professionalism

In today’s society, a lot of factors play a part in how people perceive your business – a website being one of them. For most people, a website is the first point of call when researching a company; a site is deemed to be more trusting that just being present on social media and allows the users to see a business from several aspects. Pair this with the information collated onto your site, it almost acts as a portfolio for your business and will speak volumes about you. Covering the likes of products available and reviews from customers; they all play a part in building up your professional reputation and your website can be just the start of it!

4. Long Term Investment

Investing in a website is a long term thing; it allows for you to market your business constantly and regularly update it where you see fit. Thinking about this, once your website is paid for (whether you choose to do this upfront or by paying monthly), it’s yours and is there for you to manage and alter along with your business. As we’ve previously mentioned, a website brings in so many other benefits, such as a better presence online in reaching a wider audience. Whilst a website may initially seem like a lot of money; it’s important to remember that it’s forever and can bring a lot more than what you pay out for it!

5. Creates an Identity

Our final key point in having a website for your business is the identity it can create for your company. It’s important to remember that your competitors will already have a site (and if they don’t, it’s only a matter of time). By having a website for your business, you are clearly taking a stand and making yourself established in your industry. It’s key to think about how you will create your identity and make yourself stand out from your competitors; by being present on all the platforms and places that they are, it can help in both evening the playing field and finding factors to differ yourselves from them.