With millions of websites for small businesses coming online every week providing a vast array of services, small business website design companies are busier than ever.
As successful small business owners are becoming more and more attuned to the benefits of having a website, still 30 to 40% of their competitors them lack any online presence.
When asked, many of these small business owners say they neither have the time, money or skills needed to develop a website. Others say they have no use for one, as they feel it’s no longer required because they maintain a social media presence.
But this attitude is changing, as nearly 30% of small business owners who were surveyed in 2020, indicated at they plan to develop their first website this year. Here are the reasons they’re electing to do so.
- Websites can help them target local customers.
- Keeping the information on their website up to date is straightforward.
- Traditional advertising methods are more expensive than websites.
- They want to sell their products and services online
- Customers will consider their service or brand more trustworthy and reputable if they have a website
- They want to control branding and information regarding their products or services.
- Customers expect small businesses to maintain websites.
A Website can help them target local customers
Many small businesses are under the impression that websites are only useful for reaching a global customer base. But this attitude is changing as Google shows that nearly 50% of all their searches are looking for products or services near them and websites are increasingly becoming important tools for attracting and maintaining a loyal local customer base.
Potential clients conduct more and more searches using mobile devices, if you have a product or service that people are looking for while they’re on the go, not having a website means you’re missing out on the opportunity to attract visitors are already in your neighborhood.
Keeping the information on their website up to date is easy
In the early days of the internet many small businesses launched websites. But as it took developers weeks to build these sites, added to the fact that business owners didn’t have the skills or know-how to make any changes or updates, the information provided quickly became outdated. With tools like WordPress updating and maintaining websites couldn’t be easier, you can change different parts of your design, add or remove photographs and edit text in a matter of minutes. We can also link WordPress updates to your social media accounts and much more.
Traditional advertising methods are more expensive than a website.
Traditional advertising methods continue to become more and more expensive, although they’re no longer as reliable as they used to be. This has prompted many small business owners to look to websites, as they are much more cost effective, and give you a broader reach than most conventional forms of advertising.
They wanted to sell products and services online
For obvious reasons, online sales in 2020 have hit an all-time high. As more and more customers see the benefits of buying services and products online, it’s now vital that small business owners adapt to this trend. Adding an e-commerce element to their business can help supplement their income in the short term and provide them with the opportunity to market their products and services to a much broader audience in the long term.
Customers consider Brands more trustworthy and reputable when they have a website
As customers are becoming increasingly tech savvy, the ability to do some basic research online regarding any product or service allows them to judge the trustworthiness and reliability of any business instantly. Research has shown that nearly 75% of people will view your business credibility based solely on the quality of your website’s design. Working closely with a website design company can ensure that your site has a modern feel, and a customized domain. These are just two markers of trustworthiness that customers are looking for.
Keeping control of information and branding
Positive comments and reviews on websites can directly affect the success of your small business. Too many small business owners have become very reliant on other websites to provide their customer base with information and reviews. Relieving yourself of this dependency, by creating your own online presence will allow you to control how your brand is marketed and what information they provide to your customers.
Customers expect small businesses to maintain websites
The number one reason that small business owners are maintaining websites today is that their customers expect them to. If your customers cannot find information about your product or service online, they’re highly unlikely to make a purchase, even if you’re providing services from a local shop or business. Not having an online presence will just give off the message you’re stuck in the past or that your business or service is not as open and welcoming as others. These types of messages are not the ones you want to convey to your existing customer base or any potential new customers.
I already use Facebook, why do I need a website too?
There’s no denying the benefit of having a Facebook page with a series of excellent reviews. But a strong social media presence is no longer enough to guarantee exposure to a localized customer base. Maintaining a Facebook page as your online presence is its problematic strategy, primarily because Google constantly changes its rules and algorithms, meaning what works for you last week may not work for you this week. To successfully maintain your social media profile, you completely depend on the platform you’re working with and trust any changes they make are in your best interests.
Maintaining your own website means it belongs to you, and you maintain complete control of its content and the message it conveys. No matter what your social media provider says, your customers will always find your website exactly as you want them to and its will always remain available to everyone.
The case for small business owners maintaining websites today couldn’t be stronger..
As we mentioned earlier of the 30% to 40% of small businesses who don’t already have websites, nearly 80% of them plan to launch their first website this year. Are you going to be one of them? An effective Online Branding strategy should begin by developing your target audience. Companies like CyberVYPR can help you build a striking online web presence that captivates your target audience.