Have you ever found yourself googling, “Do I need a website?” The short answer is absolutely. I know that you’re probably thinking why when you can do virtually everything on social media. And, I will offer a professional rebuttal. But you can’t. The main reason is that you need to own your platform. I have nothing against having a social media presence. Actually I encourage you to have a presence on every social network that your ideal client may be using.
"However, I do object to you putting all your eggs in one basket aka having only a social media profile to represent your online business.”
For starters you don’t own the platform and the creators can change the rules at any time. If you’re an active Instagram user then you’re probably aware of all of the changes they’ve made to the algorithms which effects when your audience sees your post. For example you may post a flash one-day sale on Tuesday but your audience may not see it until Wednesday. This kind of defeats the purpose right?
So why leave all the decisions up to someone else about your business? I know – it makes no sense whatsoever. This is exactly why you need a website so you can always have control over your content.
Some of the main reasons why business owners neglect having a website are usually the cost and tech-knowledge required to get it started. You shouldn’t let these reasons hold you back with all of the resources available plus you can find professional web designers that can fit your budget for a custom website.
I promise I’m going to change your mind with these 6 reasons why you need a website for your small business.
HERE WE GO… 6 REASONS WHY YOU NEED A WEBSITE
1. Your Business Will Look More Credible and Professional
There’s nothing more tacky then requesting your clients to send you their email address via an Instagram DM so you can send them a PayPal invoice. In 2019, we are committing ourselves to be more professional and present ourselves as such. Having a website avoids all of this and makes you look more credible and professional. It’s also a plus if your website provides useful content like blog posts about your industry, products, and service. This type of content alone will make you appear as an expert and credible online.
2. It Works While You Sleep
Your website is kind of like an employee that works 24 hours a day – 7 days a week. It’s even working when you can’t. Your website can provide prospective clients with more info about your business, allow your clients to book services, and buy products even when you’re not around. Plus, there are so many features that can be added on platforms such as Squarespace, Wix, and Wordpress like like video welcome messages, appointment schedulers and online shopping carts.
3. You Own And Control Your Website
Social media is a great tool for attracting traffic to your website and sharing content. However, relying solely on social media can be a recipe for disaster. The problem is that you don’t own the platform so the creators can change the terms of use and rules at any time. When this happens you literally have no control over your content. A common example of this is how Facebook business pages limit the amount of content your audience sees unless you sign up for Facebook ads. Who wants to buy ads just for your audience to see your business?
4. You Can Reach More People
Your website can be reached from anywhere in the world. This means you don’t have to rely on foot traffic walking into your physical location to get sales. Your website provides you with an always accessible location to sell products at any time of the day. This is truly beneficial if you run a product-based business. Even service-based businesses can benefit in having a website by offering their services worldwide.
5. It Provides A Medium To Showcase Your Work
Your website is the best place to showcase your work and provide social proof such as reviews to prospective clients. Including a portfolio, gallery, and/or testimonials about your products and services can help demonstrate what makes your business unique. If you’re relying only on social media to showcase your work then you likely have no control of what people see, the quality of what they see, and how they interact with what they see. Your website allows you to be in control of how your work is displayed plus include additional information and links to buy a product or submit a service inquiry.
6. You Can Use It To Streamline and Save Time
Streamlining and saving time is another important reason why you need a website for your small business. For example you can reduce a lot of repetitive questions with a Frequently Asked Questions section or page. As long as your website is up and running, it is available to help your prospects and clients without you having to get involved every time.
IF YOU ARE READY TO MAKE THE NEXT STEP TOWARD PRESENTING YOURSELF OR YOUR BUSINESS PROFESSIONALLY, WE’D LOVE TO BE APART OF THE PROCESS. SHOP OUR CUSTOM TEMPLATES OR CONTACT US NOW TO HELP YOU MAKE YOUR MARK IN THE DIGITAL SPACE.