Business websites are more important in 2019 than ever before. We live in a world where people search before they make a decision – Google, check review sites before they visit – Yelp, and post or “check-in” while they’re there – Facebook.

Whether it be researching product or service information, store locations, or past reviews, making sure your business and brand is in the forefront can make an immediate impact on how your potential customers perceive you. This is why it’s extremely vital to position yourself online with a strong, professional destination that shows customers that you mean business.

With this in mind, consider these 5 reasons why your business should have a professional website.

1st Impressions Are Important

Most of the time your website is often your customers first impression of your business and its brand. Even for brick and mortar businesses that depend on local foot traffic, there’s a high probability that your target audience is researching your business online before they come in.

This means, starting with your website, consumers are passing judgement and making a decision about whether or not they will even visit your store, restaurant or office. More importantly, if you don’t have a website, they’re likely to dismiss you entirely or even worse, never know you existed in the first place.

That being said, having a website for your business is incredibly important, however, if you have a website that is hard to navigate or unattractive to your audience, you may be turning potential customers away without even knowing it. Business 2 Community recently held a survey that stated 94% of consumers think that easy and effective website navigation is the most useful website feature a business can have.

All professional web design should, at minimum, include the following elements:

Simple Navigation – Providing a navigation that allows your customers to find what they’re looking for on your website without clicking around several times is crucial. It should be clear and simple, allowing for quick access to your information.

Attractive Design – Having an aesthetically pleasing website is a must. It should use colors and images that align with your brand and businesses personality, while being pleasing to the eye. Providing a balance between aesthetics and informative content can’t be overstated.

Mobile Friendly – It’s 2019 and having a responsive site is one of the most important aspects of any web design project. We use our phones and tablets every day to research new businesses and if your website isn’t mobile friendly, you could be missing out on a lot of revenue.

Informative Content – Your customers are going to your website to find an answer to their problem. By providing informative content, you give them a solution. The trick is doing this while optimizing for competitive keywords that your consumers might use to find businesses like yours. 

Search Engine Optimization – Having a website is only one step to driving customers to your business. Optimizing your content to rank on search engines is the next. Talk to an SEO company that offers services that will make sure your website is being utilized to its fullest. (More down below)

Fast Load Times – Your website needs to load within a few seconds. Like with most things, people have a short attention span and are inclined to leave if kept waiting, your website is no different.

Easy Conversion Opportunities – Once your target audience is on your website, it must be easy for them to convert into potential customers. Allowing for easy navigation to contact forms or having your phone number in the right spot can mean the difference between a new customer or a missed opportunity.

If you don’t have the time or resources to build out your own professional website, then work with a web design agency that can provide these services.

Provide Credibility and Brand Recognition

As we talked about above. First impressions are really important. However, a good website doesn’t just provide a successful first impression. Having a well-designed website instantly boosts your credibility as a legitimate business. The 21st century consumer is a skeptic. In fact, 56% of people stated that they won’t trust a business without a website.

When people think of branding, they usually think about a logo. It’s true, a logo is a big part of the company’s image. But it’s so much more than that. A brand is the entity of a business. It’s what comes – and stays – alive in the minds of consumers. It builds the personality that consumers come to know and trust. A good website provides this.

We like to think of your website as your digital office, open 24/7/365, even when you’re not. This keeps your brand in the forefront of possible consumers at all times.

Digital Marketing and Lead Generation

It’s 2019 and long gone are the days of billboards and radio advertisements. Instead of sending out your message to the masses hoping a few convert, why not advertise specifically to people interested in your services. With digital advertising methods like Google AdWords and Facebook, you can target consumers directly in their buying process and show them exactly what they need to see in order for them to complete their purchase.

No matter what form of digital advertising you choose, it all results in driving traffic to your website. Wouldn’t you want all of those consumers to see a beautiful website that represents your business and provides solutions to their problems? Or better yet, for those who don’t have a website, wouldn’t you want to take advantage of marketing solutions that can increase your sales and ROI?

SEO Is a Marketing Powerhouse

We all utilize search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing to find information, research products, or find businesses that can provide the services we require. 81% of people research a business or service online prior to making a purchase decision. If your business doesn’t have a website, you’re missing out on this huge market.

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a complex beast but when done properly can become a lead generating machine. By targeting industry specific keywords, you can gain access to a large market of consumers searching for your services. You don’t even need to do anything! They find you and you provide the solution to their problems.

With no website, comes no SEO. With no SEO, comes no lead generating machine.

Compete with Big Brands

A common misconception that people have about websites is that they’re only for the big boys. This is completely false. Now more than ever, websites are more accessible and affordable with platforms like WordPress, Wix, and Duda. It could even be argued that websites provide more upside for small businesses.

Having a website gives you an opportunity to compete with large brands and businesses by connecting local customers. It’s estimated that 70% of U.S. households now use the internet when shopping locally for products and services. With that being said, search engines are now prioritizing local search and often rank results to location. When utilized properly, this can really benefit local businesses!

Most web design agencies have small web packages that can range anywhere from $500 – $2000 and can still provide immense value to your business. If you don’t have the time to create your own, talk with an agency and let them build one for you.

Now You Know!

No more delaying or making up excuses for not moving forward on a website for your business. The 5 reasons listed above should be more than enough information to realize that not having a website is a missed opportunity. Contact us today to receive a free website consultation. No risk, just solutions.