Websites offer the owner a digital presence in the World Wide Web. Their purpose is numerous ranging from educational, news, forums, social media and eCommerce. Because of their ability to reach vast audiences, they are powerful marketing tools at the very least and for some, they are a digital shopfront and portal into a business with unlimited opportunities.
Here are key reasons why you need a website:
Cost-Effective
You know exactly how much your website is going to cost you and it’s ongoings – a brick and mortar store, on the other hand, is susceptible to many out of the ordinary occurrences which could blow out the costs such as leaving the lights on, theft, damage, extra staff etc.
A strategically developed website and online presence solution provides tremendous benefits and costing outlines.
Accessible around the clock
Your website and social media accounts are available 24/7/365. Imagine that you want to buy from a store. You put in all the effort required to go to the store, but when you get there, it’s closed. We all know how irate we feel in that situation. You’ll think twice about going back given the bad taste it is left (ok might have been your fault for not checking but hey, this is proving the point here!). You will find another store that is more easily accessible.
Since your website is operational around the clock, from the convenience of the local coffee shop, their couch or their bed, your customers and clients can easily access your website and services.
Convenient
What is more convenient: driving outside to look for different stores that are available to shop in, or sitting in the comfort of your own home and shopping for the products with your favourite connected device? The pretty obvious answer, unless you like aimlessly driving around. Smart businesses realise this and thus have their website housing their products and services so that potential customers can browse online for the products they want to purchase.
Credibility
By building a website, you are allowing your business to tell consumers why they should trust you and the testimonials and facts to back up those opportunities. Believe it or not, most people will search the internet for a product or service before the purchase to check the credibility first. When you provide excellent service or product, positive word-of-mouth about your business is likely to spread. Which, in turn, delivers more repeat and new business.
People tend to trust a business after they have done business with it. Using your website, you can continuously serve consumers online and increase your credibility as a business owner.
Sales
Without sales, or selling more than you spend, your business needs to turn around. By having an online presence, you allow for the purchase of your products or services around the clock to whoever whenever with no or hardly any limitations; Unless you run out of stock or overworked, but that’s a functional problem to have right! Giving your business the online presence it deserves is crucial to your brand and accountants smile.
In short, being visible worldwide means, you are very likely to gain more customers. The more customers and visitors you have, the more sales you will generate. The more sales you make, the happier you and your shareholders will be!
Marketing
Having a website and online presence strategy allows you to market your business online. There are lots of marketing strategies you can use to advertise and market your business. All online marketing strategies have been proven to be effective. Which ones you choose depends on your chosen industry and business model. Speak to us to see which is best for your business.
