Small business owners are often wary about building a website. Excuses like “I am not a tech-savvy person,” “I don’t have enough budget,” or “I can’t monitor the website traffic” may come into your mind.
But you need to know the countless opportunities your business is missing without a website. We live in an era of massive digitization where more than 70% of customers prefer shopping online.
Your absence from the online world can benefit competitors, slowing down sales anytime. Avoid giving this chance to your rivals by maintaining your presence through a credible online strategy.
Here are a few reasons to help you understand why a website is a dire need of your small business:
1. To Engage Customers
A website is a platform where you can use multiple tactics for consumer engagement. Once you successfully engage a potential client, the chances of conversion increase automatically.
The below ideas are ideal for engagement through websites:
- Valuable content
You can educate customers by uploading informative content and solving their pain points. On almost every website, there is a section for blogs. Here, business owners add content related to their industry that can help their customers.
For instance, if you have a small home décor business, you can choose content related to cheap home décor ideas, bedroom décor with canvas prints, wall art tips, and so on. When your target audience gets information from your website, they are more likely to stay connected.
- High-quality images
Images are another helpful asset that can drive consumer attention. Look at the below example of Tap Phong Trading. The slideshow of images on their home page looks eye-catching and appealing. Not just this, these images also reveal what the company offers.
In general, it is ideal to use custom pictures for your product line. However, stock images can be a perfect alternative if your small business lacks the budget and time for professional photography. You can find many websites offering high-quality images at affordable prices.
- Interesting videos
According to reports, 78% of marketers find videos helpful in increasing the sales for their business. Plus, 86% say that videos have increased traffic on their website.
You can upload videos to catch the user’s attention when you have a website. Videos have the power to reveal multiple things in a short time, explain complicated concepts, and demonstrate the use of a product.
2. To Display Your Online Existence
Today, digitization is at its peak. That is why every other brand is working hard to maintain a distinctive online identity. A lack of presence on the World Wide Web can create doubt in front of your customers. They will assume that your small business cannot follow modern-day business trends.
Moreover, they won’t be able to compare your products and prices with your competitors. For instance, you run a food business without a functional website. Your competitor, on the other hand, has a well-established website. People looking to order food will not be able to see your menu, prices, deals, etc. and will have to contact you everytime for details. Consequently, they will give preference to those with an online existence.
3. To Get More Clients
You can reach more clients and experience rapid business growth with a website. But you must design a solid growth strategy and stay consistent with your efforts. Here is how you can increase your clientele:
- Locals who Search Online
Only some potential clients can come to your brick and motor store. Due to time constraints, many people prefer online options when they want to buy something. With a website, you can show your business in online searches and target the latter group of potential buyers. All you need is to pay attention to the search engine optimization strategy.
- Overseas Clients
A website enables you to cater to the international market, which otherwise requires a hefty investment. Taking orders from international clients and shipping products without being present in the local market becomes possible with a website.
- Clients through Positive Reviews and Social Sharing
Though people can find you in their searches, how will they get the confidence to make a purchase decision? A website has a section for testimonials. These reviews help gain the trust of potential customers. In other words, they serve as proof of your authenticity.
Besides this, customers often share videos, images, or discount offers on your website with their friends and family. Suppose you visit a site with a flat 50% off on all products. After looking at the countdown timer, you think of sharing the page with your friends. This way, a website can generate a lot of traffic.
4. To Create a Solid Marketing Strategy
Being a small business owner, you must have a limited budget. But, if you invest it right, your business can reach the next level. One of the proven tips is to invest in data-driven strategies, for which having a website is mandatory.
Here is how a website can help you extract data for marketing:
- Visitor Tracking
You can use visitor tracking tools to know from which location you are getting the most visitors. It will help you design strategies specifically for that location. Moreover, you can know the peak time of visitors along with the pages on which they spend the most time.
- Conversion Rate
You can know the outcome of your marketing efforts through conversion rate. If it is increasing, your strategies are working well. However, if you notice a decrease, it is a red signal, and you must amend your plans.
- Consumer Record
Today, business owners use Customer Relationship Management software to track former consumer conversations. The chat history highlights consumer queries, allowing you to work on the loopholes of business. Apart from it, you can also retain former consumers with the help of client records.
5. To Enhance Business Efficiency
Compared to a brick and motor store, a website brings efficiency to your business.
Following are a few ways through which you can speed up your business process through a website:
- Online Payments
When you receive payments online, there is no need to hire a cashier. It reduces the chance of error, saves time, and lets you record receipts automatically.
- Chatbots
The chatbot software automatically answers basic queries whenever a consumer starts a conversation with a live chat support system. In this way, chatbots reduce the workforce and help enhance consumer relations.
- Quick Order Processing
No matter how many customers visit a website simultaneously, they can view products, read their details, and fill the carts. Without a website, catering to multiple customers at a time is a time-consuming and challenging process.
Conclusion
All in all, your business needs a website to highlight its online existence, create an excellent marketing strategy, and grow the clientele. Not just this, you can also engage consumers and work efficiently through a website.
Do not waste more time. Enter the digital world with a professional website!
Going further: How Digital Business Consultants Help Your Business Grow
