If your business has gotten this far without a website, you might be wondering: do I need a website for my business?
What’s the point if my business is already successful without one?
I’ve helped numerous companies of varying sizes create their digital presence. In some cases, organizations are hesitant to get online because they feel they are not tech-savvy enough and don’t understand how to manage a website. Other times, companies are concerned about the price.
The good news is that there’s a solution. We’ve collected 5 of the biggest benefits your small business can receive from even a simple website.
Saving You Time + Customer Service
Many businesses get calls from prospects or existing customers asking simple questions about location and hours of operation. Calls can also distract your staff from focusing on the most important parts of your business. A website can reduce these calls and increase internal productivity. At the same time, it helps customers find useful information without needing to call, which ultimately provides an all-around better user experience.
Website makes you look professional
Having your website lets you create a branded email address (e.g. diana@yoursite.com) which adds a level of professionalism to all of your correspondence, especially if you’ve used a personal email address to conduct business up until now.
Business/Freelance website can attract new customers
Once you’re online and have an SEO-optimized website, you have a chance of showing up in Google search results. This means that when people are searching for a product or service, there is a chance your website will show up in the results. This allows you to drastically increase your customer base.
You can clearly showcase your products and services
You can show potential customers what they’ll get when they work with you by displaying high-quality photography on your website.
A newly branded website encourages customers to contact you
A website is a great place to make your contact information easily available to potential customers. You can even publish your contact information in a header or footer so it appears on every single page.
Key Steps To Building A Great Small Business Website
Obtain a good domain name
For example, Amazon.com is a much broader website address than BooksOnline.com
Get it here
Purchase a web host to Host your Site
Every website needs a host – a server where all its data is stored for the public to access at all times.
If you're looking for free website hosting options, it's important to remember that hosting a website is by no means free for the hosting company. Therefore, they may employ other methods, such as placing banner ads on your website, to compensate for the free hosting.
Some popular website hosting companies include:
Design Your Website
If your business doesn't already have a logo, hire a graphic designer or create a logo yourself to use on your website, business cards, and social media profiles. This will help your clients identify your company quickly and easily on the web.
Be clear about what your business does.
Set up your payment system (if required)
While this step won't apply to all business websites, companies that want to offer the option for customers to pay online will need to integrate electronic payment systems with their websites. The easiest way to do this is through e-commerce software or small business credit card processing solutions. Paypal, stripe etc can be integrated into the website for starting.
Test and publish your website
Before announcing that your site is live on the web, make sure it works on all major browsers, like Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Safari and Chrome.
Create an interesting, memorable, and engaging website user interface
Make sure your small business website interface leaves a positive impression that drives results.
