You may be wondering why a social media company would recommend having a website. Facebook and Instagram are good enough, right? Wrong.
Although social media is extremely important, having a solid website is like the backbone of any social campaign. It’s where all your social media profiles point to. It’s the core of your campaign.
Without a website, it is difficult to direct traffic anywhere, which can make your customers confused and frustrated. That’s the last thing you want from your customers!
Still don’t think you need one? Check out these five reasons why every business needs to have an up-to-date website.
1. It Ensures Google Know Your Name
The customer journey and experience is completely different than it was 20 years ago. Unfortunately, some businesses are still stuck in the past and afraid to catch up with the world of business today. You don’t want to be one of those businesses!
Nowadays, one of the very first things a potential customer will do is Google your business. It’s how they figure out if you’re legit, if they should trust you, if you know what you’re doing. If an outdated website appears, the customer will automatically make a negative judgment about your brand. If you can’t even keep up on your website, how are they supposed to trust the integrity of the product or service you’re selling?
With cyber security being even more important than ever, an outdated website can cause users to question your security and faith in your company. If a site has the capabilities for a user to make purchases (and input their private information) your outdated site will definitely make them think twice.
Finally, with a website, and optimized content, you have a real chance at pushing your brand to the top of Google search results. This means that if you are in a competitive space, customers have an increased chance at finding your business first! Isn’t that what every business wants?
2. Everyone Else is Doing It
Everyone else is making a website and keeping updates so you should, too. That sounds a lot like peer pressure, but it is valuable to be aware of.
As mentioned above, most people Google a business before ever stepping foot in the door or making a purchase. With this in mind, if a customer does this and only your competitors come up, or their websites are much newer and safer looking than yours, then this is bad news for you. Not only are you missing an opportunity to connect with your potential customers, but you are also giving your competitors an instant advantage.
“One of the main reasons you should have a website for your business is to increase your organization’s credibility. Chances are several providers are offering a similar service to yours. One way you can stand out is by having a website that looks good and clearly communicates quality information to your consumers.” – Forbes
3. Making a Website Now is Easier Than Ever
Gone are the days where you needed to know how to code, or needed to hire a website developer to make yourself a working website. With user-friendly software like GoDaddy, WordPress, and Wix, making your own business website is incredibly easy. With hundreds of easy-to-edit templates and step-by-step walk-throughs, you could have a basic website up and running in a matter of hours!
Keep in mind, if you do not have time for this, tons of companies will build your website for you. However, for small businesses, this can still be quite pricey. Check out some website-making software and see what you think!
4. You Can Share Your Own Story
Websites offer a way for your company to create and share your personal story. It is one of the only platforms where you can entirely control what is said about you and have the room to say a lot in exactly the way you want to say it.
Despite negative reviews, social media complaints, and unpleasant comments, websites can paint a positive picture of your brand, and highlight all of your best qualities and services without any outside influence a tap away, such as in your Instagram comments.
Your business has the opportunity to share information with your customers that you want them to hear on a website. This can be highlighted and spread across your social media channels as well (getting even more people to your website – and sharing your story to a wider audience), but your website solidifies it.
5. You Can Show Off What You Have
Whether you offer products or services, having a clear place where customers can check out what you do and offer is always a must. Depending on the type of company you run, it can also be an excellent resource for customers who need more information and detail and can take some pressure off staff. Of course, your social media can outline some of this, but not with as much clarity and information that a website can provide.
Bonus: Websites never close! You don’t need someone monitoring them 24/7 – and customers can browse your selection in their own time. They can save exactly what they were looking at without having to scroll back, like on social media.
Need help with your website? We know some great designers we can recommend! Contact us and we will do an intro to an awesome web designer.
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This blog post was originally published in August 2018 and has been edited to improve accuracy and readability.
