All business owners know that running your own business is no walk in the park, and sometimes it can feel like your to-do list never ends. With this being said, it’s still no excuse to take shortcuts in the important things- like establishing a strong online presence. It’s crucial to formulate your brand online as a strong, professional destination that gives potential clients and customers a positive impression prompting them to connect further with your business. Establishing a strong online presence all begins with a user-friendly, aesthetically pleasing website that efficiently communicates your goods and services. With this in mind, read on to learn more about some reasons why having a strong website is so important.
Why Your Small Business Needs A Website
- First impressions count- The reality is that we live in a world governed by an online economy. People Google before shopping, scroll through online review sites like Yelp before eating at a restaurant, and “check in” on social media as they go about their day. Due to the huge impact the online world has on your branding (and in turn, profits), making a good impression online is key. The old adage, “first impressions count” rings as true in the digital age as it always has. The first thing potential consumers see is your website, and it is the first thing potential clients and customers are judging your business on. Oftentimes, potential consumers may dismiss your store, restaurant, or office entirely before they even visit the location due to the lack of a website, or a bad website. Your website needs to reflect the kind of experience your business- or what they picture your kind of business- should offer.
- Window Shopping Is Moving Online- Nowadays, taking a stroll down your local Main Street is not the only way people look through stories and other small businesses. Customers are constantly browsing through Google, Yelp, Facebook, and a variety of websites to plan their next purchases. You need to ensure your business is represented well on these places on the internet. The first step is, of course, having a website, but it’s equally as important to be represented among each of the online search engines, review sites, and other online spots your customers may find you on. Not only should your URL address be easily available, make sure your street address, phone number, and email are clearly presented as well. Social media links are great, but only have these if you are planning to maintain an active, curated social media presence.
- No Website Will Lose You Business- At this point, we’ve established that not having a website will cause your business to miss out on various opportunities for potential customers to figure out who you are and if they want to spend money on you. With this being sad, it’s still better to have no website than to have a bad website. While no website will lead to many missed opportunities, a bad website can actually be worse since it literally makes your business look horrible. With so many template-based websites available these days, like Shopify.com, for you to customize for your unique business, there’s really no excuse for your website to look sloppy and unprofessional. IF you’re unable to proudly promote the website you have currently and available for the world to look at online, then you should take it down.
Contact Us Today
No matter what the size of your business, it’s essential to have a strong online presence, starting with an effective website. Affordable Digital Marketing in Hollywood, FL offers high-quality digital marketing services like website building and social media management. Call Affordable Digital Marketing for a consultation today!