A website acts as a portfolio or a resume and it is your digital storefront. If you have a business, and you don’t have a website, then keep reading because this article was written for you.
Today we are going to learn:
- the benefits of having a website
- how to get ahead of your competitors
- how a website increases sales – even while you sleep!
10 Benefits of Having a Website
Many businesses out there have an Instagram or Facebook page and call it a day. Maybe this worked a decade ago, but in 2021, you need more than that. Having the ability to control your branding, your content, and running your business 24/7 will only boost your audience and sales.
1. you own it.
You don’t own your social media accounts. They are at the mercy of the platforms algorithms and there is not much you can do to control it. If they decide to not allow links, posts of certain content, or decide to close your account then you are left with no recourse.
As a business owner, don’t you also want to own your digital storefront?
Shouldn’t you be in control of which content is shown to your visitors?
Having your own website will extend the life of your content, give your audience a place to browse and engage with your brand, and give you legitamacy as a real business.
2. social media posts are short lived
A tweet you sent out a year ago is not in front of anyone’s eyes. A tweet you sent out just yesterday isn’t either. This is because the average lifespan of a tweet is only 18 minutes.
| Social Media Platform | Lifespan of a post |
| 18 minutes | |
| 5-6 hours | |
| 24-48 hours | |
| 24-48 hours | |
| YouTube | 20 days or more |
| months to 1 year+ | |
| TikTok | ~24 hours |
Think about it like this: you have spent all of that time and energy making content for your social media accounts, and then the posts aren’t being seen, engaged with, or generating any pageviews or sales.
That is really frustrating.
Running a small business is already challenging as you are often one person wearing many hats. Adding all of the technical knowledge needed for digital marketing and navigating social media networks makes it feel really impossible. That is because it is.
Having a website does not expire (as long as you pay the bills). Your business website’s content can be there as long or as little as you want.
Now, let’s be very clear. Having a website does not exclude you from algorithms. Just the social media ones. Once you have a website, you are at the mercy of the Google Gods. If they deem your site good enough they will even serve it up to potential customers.
This is done via SEO (Search Engine Optimization). Don’t worry if that means nothing to you at this point, there is a guide coming very soon!
Need SEO help now? Browse available services and book a free call today.
3. get on the map (literally)
If you own a small local plumbing company I bet you would love to show up on Google when someone writes “plumbers near me”.
When setting up your online presence your business should be registered with Google My Business. This will then tell Google that your business exists, working hours, and services you provide. Through following the registration your business will be added to Google Maps.
While you do not need a website for this step it would be a shame not to have one. Google Maps includes a very visible link to your business on its platform which potential customers can then link and see your offerings or reviews.
4. no closing time
Websites don’t have operating hours. This means that people can browse your business’s site even while you sleep. They can learn about your brand, services, products, or even shop at anytime from anywhere.
5. your competitor has one
It is most likely that your competitor has a website, and if they don’t, it is a matter of time. I like to say that “if you aren’t online, you don’t exist”. While it sounds harsh, it is true for many of your potential customers or visitors.
46% of searches on Google have local intent. This means that people are using Google to locate services and stores in their area to meet their needs. This often a transactional inquiry so it has high potential for conversion.
If someone searches for “dog groomers near me” and you don’t have a website, but your competitor does. I can guess where that customer went.
Don’t take my word for it. Read these mind-blowing SEO stats for 2021.
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6. to make more money
I highly doubt you are sitting there saying, “Hm, I don’t really need to make more than I am right now”.
Research shows that small businesses that are engaged digitally earn 2 times as much revenue per employee than those with low levels of digital engagement. They also experience revenue growth nearly 4 times as high.
Think of your website and social media content as digital billboards for your business. Without them, no one knows what you are offering – let alone if you exist.
7. control the conversation
Having a website means that you control the conversation around your brand, products, or offerings. If you do not make a website or have a strong online presence then others can control the conversation. This can be via reviews on Yelp, TripAdvisor, Facebook, or even just competitors dominating the conversation (and subsequently the market).
Read | How to Add Google Analytics to WordPress
8. feature most popular products or services
Featuring your most popular products or services, as well as your latest right on your homepage is one of the biggest advantages of having a business website.
A website also allows you to get creative with content marketing. Content marketing is a marketing approach that utilizes relevant and valuable content (article, video, photo, etc.) to engage an audience. This process initiates a connection and helps to remove resistance with acquiring new customers.
Get the most important or compelling content in front of your customers eyes. Are you a restaurant? Make sure you working hours and menu are easily accessible via mobile. If you have daily or weekly specials make them easy to access and update regulary. Are you an online boutique? Create seasonal fashion guides or how to style an article of clothing that you sell.
9. organic traffic!
This is my favorite one. Organic traffic is traffic that reaches your website via search results.
Social media often requires a large investment of time. This is time spent on the app every day posting and engaging, rinse and repeat. Your website will need some love and affection via SEO and some great content at first, but then it will (sorta) run itself.
To clarify, if you do not update your website one week, you will not be punished in search results. This means organic traffic is more sustainable and also more achievable for a small business.
10. it is inexpensive
The cost of running your own website in 2021 is relatively inexpensive.
| Needed for a website | Cost |
| Hosting | €4-10/month |
| Domain | €5-10/year |
| Website theme | free and up+ |
These are the basic up front costs to get a website up and running (without an online shop). If you are completely tech illiterate then you might need to pay someone to set it up for you.
I suggest not asking your neighbor’s daughter’s kids because they can use the internet better than you. Your website should reflect your business and to reach customers then it will need to be set up appropriately.
Conclusions
If you have a business, but don’t have a website you are making a grave mistake. On the otherhand, if you set up a terrible website and let it rot on the internet, you are not doing yourself any favors.
Your website is your digital storefront. If you spent money to make your shop windows look beautiful why not your homepage of your site? I am without a doubt that if you make any investment into your business this year, it should be a website. If you have a website, now it is time to invest in SEO and content marketing.
Read more | Does my business need a website audit?
What did you think about the 10 benefits of having a website for your small business? Did it change your mind? Let me know in the comments the next steps you are planning to take!
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