Why does my business need a website?

What if I don't have a website?

One of the major factors in businesses lacking a web presence is the fear of initial start up costs.

Research shows an average 37% increase in turnover among UK small businesses with an online presence1

Some customers rely on the internet to find businesses. They might only go to companies they can find on Google, and increasingly read and rely on other customers' online recommendations and reviews.2

There are also a large number of consumers who like the convenience of online booking and ordering of products. The more information and convenience you can achieve for your customers through the internet, the better off your business will be!

What are the business benefits of a Website?

"Many businesses reach more customers by having a website."3

Rather than start with long rambling paragraphs, we'll begin with some key points, and explore these in some more detail later. So why do you need a website?

  • Extended opening hours
  • Wider sales opportunities
  • First impressions count
  • Websites offer dynamic marketing
  • Improved customer service

Some of this information may seem obvious, or perhaps relatively trivial, but when considered together in the context of your business, these small points build a much stronger case. We will aim to highlight both the potential from investing in a professional presence online, as well as the consequences of avoiding a website or getting it wrong.

After this article, if you're considering a website to suit your business requirements and budget, contact a website designer for more information. We are happy to answer any questions you may have.

Clock 24/7

Extended opening hours

Whether your business targets consumers or business-to-business sales, your audience are all people who (between spending time on Facebook
or Messenger) will spend time comparing and researching companies online before they deal with them.

Is your business open on Sunday evenings?

Sunday evening is the new web rush hour.4 In the UK, most internet surfing is done in the evenings from 5pm - 10pm, 7 days a week, and Sunday is the busiest of all.

Is your business available to take calls when most people get home from work?

With a website providing customers with information about you, your business, your products or services and a convenient way to leave a message via an email contact form - your business is available to more people for more time.

...Even some of those surfers' Facebook time can be turned to your businesses advantage with the right online tools.

Wider sales opportunities

Taking advantage of what the internet offers businesses can generate more interest as well as help prevent potential customers from being turned away.

Are you using social media to your marketing advantage?

A website that can leverage social media is what customers want, with 1-in-4 less inclined to buy online from a site that uses no social media tools.5 Tools such as rating systems, customer reviews and social network integration.

Any good web design company should offer the ability for your customers to do all these things including "Like" pages or products on Facebook, just as we have at the top of this article.

Is your business open 24-hours?

Customers love the convenience of 24-hour trade online.6 With an e-commerce website your customers can place bookings or orders whenever they want, and you can potentially wake up to new business every morning!

First impressions count

When people find your site online - from a search, or by recommendation - the first impression they get is how it looks. This reflects directly on your business.

The appearance of your website will make or break many customers decision as to whether they use you or not, as they will no doubt be able to find websites for your competitors during their research.

While it's not necessary to have a beautiful website, its important that it uses technology correctly, and is usable and accessible. People are impatient on the internet. Instantly gratify them or they're out.7 For a business, this means the design of your website is very important. Don't leave it to amateurs.

Your site speaks volumes about your business. It either says, "Hey, look, we take our business so seriously that we have created this wonderful site for our customers!" or it screams, "Hey, look, I let my 10-year-old nephew design my site. Good luck finding anything!"

- Why You Need a Website, by Tim W. Knox8

Websites offer dynamic marketing

Changes to your website can be instant. This includes promotions, sales or topical information such as bank holiday opening times, but it also applies to new products and services or price changes.

Do you use paper-based marketing?

The advantage of being able to instantly add, promote or update information on your website means visitors to your website see the right information, the right prices, the right products - and if there's a problem - it can also be corrected instantly. None of this is possible with traditional offline marketing tools.

What can you include in traditional marketing material?

By example, the Yellow Pages issue a printed directory once per year. On this basis, you can really only advertise your contact details and hope they don't change in the next 12 months.

Even if the directory were printed monthly, you may consider using it differently, to include prices or promotional items, but you still have to prepare advertisements in advance, meet printing deadlines and once committed there are no changes.

Improved customer service

Even where business comes from word-of-mouth, just your business's name is all someone needs to hear to be able to go online and find out how to contact you, or maybe other information they don't feel justifies a phone call yet.

What do customers want?

Customers have said they want accessible information and availability for questions before making a purchase, and would be encouraged to spend more as a result of improved customer service.2

What can you do with a website?

To improve customer service - to encourage your customers to spend more - you can leverage your business website to provide any and all information those customers need. As discussed, the information can be updated more rapidly, corrections made quickly, and with clear presentation of facts and contact information, customers can enjoy using your company.

Talk to us if you have any concerns about being able to manage your web customers and their expectations. We have ways to make it easier for you, and will always build engaging sites for your customers - no matter what your budget is.

In conclusion

In reality all the reasons are interlinked. By having a good website the awareness of your business is raised, information is available to customers more easily, 24-hours a day, increasing customer service and satisfaction. New leads are possible from marketing opportunities that otherwise aren't available, like social media and networking.

A website - even a small one - is an investment for your business and its perception when properly implemented. And the more you can make of online opportunities to market, accept enquiries and even sell, the better the return on that investment.

If you are interested in discussing a website that would suit your business requirements and budget, contact a professional web design company for more information. We can create sites that can expand and grow with your business, and are happy to answer any questions you may have.