Do I Even Need A Website?

6 Reasons Why You Need a Website in the Digital Era

In today's digital world, there are so many online spaces where you can market your business. And for many businesses, just keeping a presence on social media can make it feel as though they are sufficiently active online. With so much action happening on social media platforms these days, some people wonder: “Do I even need a website?”

Well, the short answer is:

Yes.

There are many reasons why you need a website for your business, but the overarching reason is that in 2022, if your business does not exist online, it might as well not exist at all.

Gone are the days of the phone book. Nowadays, when you’re looking for information about a business or service (...or literally anything) it’s the trusty Google you turn to. A quick search should turn up whatever you’re looking for, and if your business is not showing up on there - well, that’s not a great sign.

Let’s be honest, when a customer discovers that a business has no website or their website is out of date, they might even wonder whether they are still in business at all.

1. Your Website is a First Point of Contact for Customers

A website is your own personal online space for your business. It’s where people go to find information about you, learn about your brand and the services or products you offer, and how to get in touch with you. If you aren’t taking advantage of having a website, you’re simply missing out on a valuable opportunity to put yourself in front of potential customers.

Your website is often your first point of contact with potential customers, and an opportunity to impress or frustrate them. (Read more about what makes a bad website here) If your content is laid out in an intuitive way that helps them find what they need, they’ll be more likely to engage with you in the real world.

It’s far easier for people to find important information on your website than it is for them to have to search through your social media feeds; scouring historic posts for your hours, info about specific products or your phone number.

Think of your social media feed as the place where you post your day to day activity and important announcements and engage with your followers, while your website is the bedrock of your business online; a place where customers can turn to for clarity on important details they might need to do business with you.

2. Your website is an Extension of You Branding

Your website is the perfect place to show off your brand. Unlike social media or other platforms that are owned and branded by large corporations, you have complete control over the branding on your website - I’m talking colours, fonts, images, text, etc.

Consider your website as an extension of your business, whether brick and mortar or digital, which means it's another place for brand recognition.

3. Your Website Is a Connecting Place

Your website is a place where people can find all of the other ways of connecting with you: social media feeds, blog, other related websites, services pages, testimonials etc, etc.

It’s like a hub for all of your details - the one place to rule them all.

Without a website, customers are left guessing your Instagram handle or searching for you on Facebook. Don't make it hard for them - people won't search for you for long. Make it as easy as possible for them to connect with you - this includes having hyperlinked phone numbers and email addresses.

4. Having a Website Makes You Look More Professional

Did you know that 84% of consumers think that a website makes your business look more professional? It's true! Add to that a personalized email address and you're really in business.

5. Having a Website Gives You Access to a Wider Market

Just by having a website, you'll attract new customers and site visitors through Google. While social media posts can be found on search engines, a website gives you far more access to tools and strategies that will put your business in front of people online. I'm talking about search engine optimization, or SEO. Learn more about SEO here.

6. A website gives you control over testimonials and messaging.

Displaying your best reviews and/or testimonials prominently on your website is a great way to establish social proof. If your business has appeared in articles from newspapers or popular local blogs, you can also feature those on your site. This kind of thing goes a long way for building trust and rapport with potential customers.

So as you see, the question is not "Do I need a website" so much as it is "Can I afford not to have a website in the digital era.

And the answer is, no.

If you're looking to get an affordable website you can maintain yourself, get in touch. We set up business owners with new sites every day.