Unlocking Success: Why Every Small Business Needs a Website
The Digital Edge Series
Welcome to the introduction for The Digital Edge Series! This series is going to cover the basics about how a website can HELP YOU and YOUR BUSINESS. We’ll be going over the main reasons every small business needs a website and a few common arguments against websites and why they don’t hold up.
In today’s digital age, having a website is no longer a dreamy luxury but a NECESSITY for small business owners, meaning these days you just can’t get away without one. A well-crafted website can be a POWERFUL TOOL to elevate your business, reach new customers, and stay competitive (and who doesn’t want that!?).
Here are the top reasons why every small business owner should invest in a website: 💻
Increased Visibility and Reach
A website is going to allow your business to be found by potential customers searching online, expanding your reach way beyond your local area or word of mouth.
With the right SEO strategies (heck, even just some basic ones!), your business can and will begin to appear in search results, attracting visitors from all over the world. That’s right, GLOBAL! 🌎
Want to learn more about visibility and reach? Check out the next article in the series.
Credibility and Professionalism
A well-designed website makes your business appear more credible and professional, which means you’re going to start attracting better customers too (the ones who want to pay what you’re worth! 💲).
It’s also going to serve as a digital storefront that BUILDS TRUST with potential customers, showcasing in depth your amazing expertise and steadfast reliability.
24/7 Accessibility
Unlike a physical store, a website is accessible 24/7, it doesn’t need to close for the night or the weekend because it doesn't get tired.
This means customers can happily learn about your products or services at any time, making it INCREDIBLY CONVENIENT and satisfying for them to engage with your business whenever they feel like it.
Not to mention the fact that you've just made yourself readily available as a business to a whole slew of new potential customers, like those ones that get up super early 🌞 or go to bed super late 🌙.
Showcase Products and Services
A website provides a dedicated platform to showcase your products or services in as much detail as you want.
You can include images, descriptions, and testimonials, all of which are going to give your next potential customer all the information they need to make an informed decision. Believe me, this is going to save you SO MUCH time 🕑 because now, instead of trying to pitch some long-winded spiel in person about all your products or services, you can just hand your new potential client a business card with your website on it knowing that they’re going to find exactly what they need.
Doesn’t that sound more relaxing!? And it means you don’t have to act all sales-y, phew. 😀
Cost-Effective Marketing
Digital marketing through your website can be WAY MORE COST-EFFECTIVE 🤑than traditional marketing methods.
Forget ads and the overwhelming social media black hole for now. With the right tools like email marketing and content marketing (aka your BLOG 🖊), you can reach a larger audience with less investment and full control, because it’s your website, not anybody else’s.
Customer Engagement and Support
Simple features like detailed contact forms and in-depth FAQs on your website can SERIOUSLY IMPROVE your customer engagement and provide better support for the people that you want as clients.
These tools make it super straightforward for your soon-to-be very appreciative customers to get in touch with you and find answers to their questions. And it also gives you a break, because you get the information you need from them, and they get the information they need from you without the back and forth.
This leads to happy customers and a happy YOU! 😍
E-Commerce Opportunities
If you’re into selling products or even just one or two of the perfect products to go along with your service, a website can serve as your online store, enabling you to reach customers who prefer to shop online. And let’s be honest, everyone shops online these days, sometimes almost exclusively 🛒.
So, this is going to bring NEW REVENUE STREAMS to you while allowing you to operate beyond the limitations of a purely physical location.
Brand Building
Your website is a key tool 🗝for building and reinforcing your brand identity 🔊, because you want to STAND OUT from the competition.
You want to get your dream clients right?
Using consistent branding elements like logos, colors, and messaging, is going to create a strong, recognizable brand that customers will notice, even in a crowded market. If you really want to compete, consistent and organized branding is essential!
Analytics and Insights
Websites can provide valuable data on visitor behavior, which is going to help you understand your audience and optimize (aka IMPROVE 💸) your business strategies.
There are a whole host of fascinating tools out there that can offer insights into how visitors are interacting with your site, what content they find most engaging, and where they come from. And collecting all this incredibly detailed information helps you get better at connecting with these new potential clients!
Competitive Advantage
Having a website is going to give you a HUGE COMPETITIVE EDGE over businesses that don’t have an online presence.
It’s going to allow you to show off your unique value ✨, connect seamlessly with your customers, and stay one step ahead of that rival you’re thinking of right now. And at the very least, if your competitor already has a website, then you need to keep up!
As you can see by now, a website is by far the most influential asset for any small business owner looking to enthusiastically step up in their business in a big way. It not only enhances your visibility and that awe-inspiring credibility you've been seeking, but it will also provide so many empowering GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES 🌱 for you in the long run.
If you've been wondering (maybe even somewhat dejectedly) what your next step should be or how to take your business up a notch, then don’t look past the obvious!
By investing in a website that really wows your audience (the type that has them immediately thinking you've got exactly what they need), you are setting yourself and your business up for fantastic success in the digital world.
If you’re not interested in the DIY route, take a look at my custom website design services, where I can help you create a stunning one-of-a-kind and well-organized website for your business.
If you’re interested in learning more about each of these points in-depth, SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER, because I’ll be diving in 🌊 to all kinds of crucial information that you’ll definitely want to know.
We’re going to cover THE BASICS and more in future blog posts, so you won’t have to feel like you’re scrambling to keep up with all those high-tech 📱 people out there.
Don’t get left out of the digital world, sign up today for regular content that will keep you and your business relevant!
Debunking Common Myths
Even with the endlessly overwhelming number of BENEFITS 😀 that come from having a website (seriously, there are a lot), some small business owners might still be worried or hesitant.
Maybe, you're apprehensive about taking that first step and still wondering if you should look into other options, like social media, first. Or maybe you're thinking to yourself that you've already got enough business, so why should you bother with more.
Ring a bell?!
Here are some common arguments against having a website and why they don’t hold up.
ARGUMENT 1
“My business is too small to need a website.”
REALITY
No business is too small to benefit from a website, unless you really don’t even want a business, I guess... 🤔
In fact, a professional website is one of the best ways that a small business can compete with larger ones.
It allows you to reach a MUCH WIDER AUDIENCE and SHOW OFF your unique offerings, effectively leveling the playing field.
ARGUMENT 2
“I don’t have the technical skills to manage a website.”
REALITY:
Modern website builders (hello Squarespace!) are designed to be user-friendly, even for those with limited technical skills so you can have CONFIDENCE in the fact that this part is no problem and that's great news because it means you don’t need to be a tech expert!
The Squarespace platform offers drag-and-drop interfaces and a ton of tutorials to help you get started. Additionally, if you don’t have the time, you can always hire a professional, to set up and maintain your website! 😊
ARGUMENT 3:
“My customers aren’t online.”
REALITY:
This is such an unfortunately common and somewhat widespread misconception, these days pretty much everyone uses the internet to find information about products and services.
When was the last time you met someone who hadn’t heard of Google?!
Even if your current customers aren’t really online that much, having a website can attract NEW CUSTOMERS who are and I assure you, the internet isn’t going anywhere. Plus, as more people turn to the worldwide web 🕸 for their needs, having an online presence ensures you won’t miss out on those customers who prefer to embrace the tech-forward ways of the future.
ARGUMENT 4:
“It’s too expensive to create and maintain a website.”
REALITY:
While there are undoubtedly a few costs associated with setting up, creating, and maintaining a website, they are often much lower than traditional marketing methods, especially when considering the bang for your buck factor 💵.
Squarespace offers super affordable plans, and the return on investment for you and your business will be significant in the long run. If you have a website, you'll be able to generate more leads and sales, build better brand awareness, massively increase your credibility, and A WHOLE LOT MORE which makes it one of the most cost-effective marketing tools available.
You'll be pleasantly surprised when customers start coming to you remarking on how professional you appear because you have an online presence that stands out. Not to mention, in my opinion, it’s the easiest place for the average person to start.
ARGUMENT 5:
“I already have a strong social media presence.”
REALITY:
While social media can be useful, it should never replace a website.
If you use social media, you should be sending your following back to your website every time you make a post.
A website is under your control, you control the content and the user experience. Social media is not under your control, and platforms can change their algorithms or policies at any time 😡 which sadly means that all that effort you put into content creation isn’t nearly as effective as it could have been if it had been pointed at your website (aka BLOGGING and long-term SEO).
ARGUMENT 6:
“I don’t have time to manage a website.”
REALITY:
Managing a website doesn’t have to be exhausting, complicated, or overly time-consuming ⌛.
Once it’s set up, regular updates and maintenance can be fairly minimal. There are a lot of little tasks that can be AUTOMATED, like scheduling your blog content in advance, for example.
Even if you don’t ever use your website to the fullest, it will still benefit you and your business. There’s really no better way to successfully increase your visibility to your chosen audience, because as I mentioned before, social media isn’t under your control, but a website is.
ARGUMENT 7:
“My business relies on word-of-mouth.”
REALITY:
A website can ENHANCE word-of-mouth marketing by providing a place for satisfied customers to leave reviews and testimonials.
If you're a small business owner with a lot of happy customers, I'll bet they would be delighted to give you their endorsement and all you really need to do is ask for it and then display it in a place where everyone can see it (aka your website!).
The more satisfied customers you have that can show their appreciation for you and your business in a public way (hint: TESTIMONIALS 🤗) the more your business is going to grow and be seen as popular.
It’s a win-win for you and for all your future customers! Additionally, it allows those potential customers who might be on the fence or trying to make a decision to see how much others are raving about you and to find more information about your business, complementing and amplifying those word-of-mouth referrals.
Now that we’ve addressed the bulk of common arguments, I’m sure you can see that having a website is not only IMMEDIATELY BENEFICIAL but super important for any small business looking to thrive in today’s digital landscape and to step up to the next level.