Ever heard of the company Blockbuster? They filed bankruptcy in 2010 and Netflix has now taken their position. The reason for Blockbuster’s failure is that they refused to go online and innovate. You do not want to be one of them, do you? As a small business owner, if you want to get your business to the next level, starting a website is the best thing to do.
“If your business is not on the internet, then your business will be out of businessâ€
- Bill Gates
If you are new to the market, it is high time to know that the market is decentralized. So if you run a business without a website, your competitors will beat you in no time. The statistics are astonishing and here’s what they say: 46% of today’s small businesses do not have a website and 10% of them don’t have an idea whether to create one.
If you are a local small business or consultant, there are high chances of people searching for your website. If you don’t have a website, it is 2019. What are you waiting for?
Online consumption is increasing and your customers can find you via your website- 24/7. You save a lot of time. Yes. That is the truth. Are you still not convinced? Don’t worry, these reasons will change your perception.
1. Online Presence for your Small Business
You do not want to restrict your company’s potential by staying offline. A website is necessary, especially in this decade as there is more traffic and demand for your business online.
Having a website shows you follow your audience and their expectations.
You have clients who spend almost one fourth of their day online and they can be easily be turned into customers only if you run parallel with them in the online world and a website will do that for you. But remember. Quality matters the most as online customers make judgments within the blink of an eye about the quality of your website and so the design and details matter a lot.
56% of people stated that they won’t trust a business without a website.
Whenever people search for your products or services, your website should pop up on the search results and it will ensure your business will not go missing in the future. With a responsive website, you customer can access any day, anywhere from any device. Your website shows the world what you are good at.So do not get distracted if someone says, “You have no one searching for you onlineâ€.
2. Leverage Untapped Market
Your competitors were also not tech savvy. But they invested their time to make a website and draw audience. Now, you can feel them making moolah and you’re left behind. If you own a retail store, you would have noticed people starting retail outlets has decreased. That is because they have moved online with their brand focusing on the digital population.
Your competitors are doing the same thing with almost 50% of businesses providing their products online. When you have a website, you are halfway ahead of your retail competitors and your performance will speak in the other half against the brands online.
Remember, while you’re thinking, someone else is doing.
Smart online business owners abide by the consumer’s mindset of trends and necessities. Trends influence the success rate online and if you are unaware of it, your competitor will capitalize on it to make huge profits. Your small business website will be open to many geographies. You will start getting orders from all parts of the world.
And one fine day, you can proudly say- “I serve global audiencesâ€.
3. Brand Positioning
“A lack of transparency results in distrust and a deep sense of insecurity.â€
Dalai Lama got it right when it comes to being clear and open to the people we meet. A good business must provide the necessary information about them and their products or services. 88% involving in active webrooming shows your customers are always in search for people like you. The more you are clear about who you are, the better the customer will become agreeable.
New customers mean new and better opportunities.
Newsletters through a mailing list, FAQs or customer reviews are some of the ways to show how authentic and reliable your business is. This is something that conventional retail businesses lack. A rating or a review on your website will strengthen the trust the consumer has on your brand and not drift towards other competitors. A feedback through a survey or a mail can help you understand your consumers and get to know their grievances and what they really want from your products or services.
4. Build Customer Loyalty
Your website will introduce you to new markets as well as big competition. Your consumers want you to be authentic and be honest with your services. You can build trust by offering valuable content, offers or freebies. Whatever you do, your intention should be spot on.
No matter how big or small, every business needs to know about their audience online.
If you do not have a website, the chances of you getting back to the same customer someday are very less and retaining them becomes a problem.
Remember, retaining customers is as important as finding new ones.
As you go digital, it also provides the chance of selling online products and services. You do not require a physical location which means you can do anything right from the comfort of your home. As people are actively searching on web, you need to know who your customers are.
Tools come in handy to monitor the visitors to your website, know what they want and what they expect. Free tools like Google Analytics helps you save money by avoiding big investments.
5. Market Your Small Business in Different Platforms
Websites provide you the chance to market your business at a very low cost across the world.
Combine your website with your social media handles and you get the marketing kit for your small business which you can’t imagine if you run a business without a website. With 500,000 people advertising on Instagram, YouTube being a creative option to market your products and Facebook as a common option in social media marketing, the chances of success are huge.
Blogs, Search Engine Marketing and Google Ads provide other opportunities to make your business stand out from the crowd and acquire new customers.
Platforms change. Hence you must adapt.
If you can market your services on Facebook and Google, then starting a website will be highly beneficial as it provides authenticity to your customers.Newsletters are a great way to keep in touch with your audience through your website as they can get updates on whatever you do.
6. Making Websites is Economical
You can make your small business website on your own or hire a website design company in Pune India. Because of this, you won’t have to spend more than USD 500-USD 1000 for a professional website. You can use WordPress, a popular Content Management System to make a website. More than two thirds of the world’s websites are built on WordPress.
The best part is you don’t need to know anything technical to Manage a WordPress site. For any small business, the fourth stage is takeoff and a website will be your weapon when you enter the global arena. The biggest advantage by using a website is that your product is not your only source of income. If your business or a blogging website gets recognized many companies will offer advertising banners on your site.
Conclusion
With change being the only constant in the current digital market, it is highly necessary to make progress with your digital game. If you still have not created a website for your small business, it is high time to get started.
Do not let technology or time be an excuse not to move forward and get your website created as soon as possible. You can book a meeting with a professional web development company in Pune who can help you go digital. Make your move right now!
