The short answer is YES. Let’s be real. It’s 2020. If you don’t have an optimized website, you are already behind your competition and your customers expectations. Today’s tech savvy customers expect you to have a business website, and many won’t even consider a business who doesn’t. In this post, we’ll cover 5 reasons why you need a business website
1. It lends credibility
Almost everyone searches a business online before visiting or using their services. Many people won’t even consider a business who doesn’t have a website and will think of it as being less professional.
2. Your competitors have a website
64 percent of small businesses have a website. This means that the majority of small businesses have an online presence. It’s likely that your competitor has a website that is appealing to people in your area. (And lets face it, you secretly like their website too.)
If you want to stay competitive within your field, it’s important that your business is online. Consumers consider businesses less professional when they don’t have a website, so a website will also helps portray you as a forward-thinking, tech-savvy business.
3. Consumers Search with Proximity in Mind
Google assumes that a user doing a search on their mobile phone is on the go, and, in turn, looking for a business in close near where they are located. For this reason, Goodle actually favors local businesses when people do mobile searches.
Having a company website that is optimized gives you a better chance of showing up higher in the rankings. It also allows customers to actually find you. If youre not showing up, customers may not even know you exist, and will end up at a competitor instead.
4. Social media reach is diminishing
So you don’t need a website because you have Facebook and Yelp?
That’s a great start, but something many people overlook is that many social media sites provide limited information for people who are not logged in. For example, Facebook nags a customer to log in to see Reviews, photos, etc…and Yelp forces people to download the app to view the site on mobile and limits the information that is viewable..
Another bummer? It’s getting even harder for businesses to connect with users on social media platforms organically. The algorithms are increasingly favoring sponsored ads and promoted posts. Organic reach on social media is plummeting lower and lower.
While social media can help your business grow, it shouldn’t be used as your sole marketing channel.
5. Google is king
Something I don’t hear anyone talking about much is that Google ultimately decides who ranks on the 1st page. They can decide in an instant to no longer let business owners add a Facebook url to the ‘website’ are on Googly My Business. Just like they did when they decided to remove Yelp reviews from local listings in favor of their own Google Reviews. Mny people saw their rankings tank simply because they were depending on Yelp for reviews. It’s always a good idea to make sure you have an independent online presence so that when one platform goes out of style, you don’t have to start over.
Summary
There are many more reasons why you need a website for your business, but it’s also a personal decision. You might not be computer savvy, or maybe you think your business doesn’t need a website. Just remember it’s what your customers want that really matters. If you can’t afford to pay for a website because you’re just starting out, add a Google site to your Google Business listing. If you’re ready to hire someone else to do it for you, take a look at our upfront pricing for a website package that works for you.
