You probably need a website
Whether you are a small or a large business, establishing an online presence can be crucial for your success. In a world where nearly everything is digitized, it only makes sense to adapt to modern technology and have your own online portal where people can get their hands on some online content that provides them with information about your business, at the very least.
The importance of having an online website doubles if your business can actually take whatever it does in the physical world to the world wide web. We are talking here about businesses that sell services or products, educational institutions, healthcare, and many more. But the truth is, nearly every business can benefit from having a well-designed and informative website that introduces the business properly to the users.
Also, using the superpowers of the internet, smaller businesses can make the best out of the digital world to boost themselves forward using cool and creative ways that could establish their names in the competition and help them put up against the bigger names in the market.
So why exactly do you need a website?
We now probably agree that regardless of your industry, and your business size, you could really benefit from having a website. The following are some of the reasons you should own a website to list a few:
1- People are expecting it
When was the last time you heard about a new business or brand, and you didn’t just rush to your browser, open a new tab and Google it, expecting to find a website or at least some solid online presence in the first couple results of the search engine?
In this modern age, with over 3.5 billion search queries happening on Google daily, it’s very likely that people will be looking up your brand name online when they are first introduced to it.
2- People are looking for the service you offer
You probably aren’t the first music records store to exist, or the only online legal consultation service out there. There are already numerous businesses out there offering your very exact service, unless you’re providing a service from the future, or maybe selling cars capable of orbiting planets?
Those looking up restaurants that offer the best Sushi nearby, again because millions are Googling whatever they need, will be greeted with a variety of businesses who’ve set up their online profile. It would be a shame if yours offered the most delicious Sushi in town and it wasn’t there among the listed restaurants.
3- You get to introduce yourself properly
It’s your website. You are fully in control of the content you want to display on it. Take this chance to define your business in a clear manner that sets you on the right track.
Make sure you provide the necessary information that everyone will be expecting to see when they first visit your website. Who are you? What’s your business about? Why would they choose you over other businesses that offer your same service?
It’s also essential to provide your visitors with a solid communication channel, so they can get to know you if they are curious for more. Offer live chat services, have them leave you a message through a Contact Us form, or at least provide them with your business email or phone number.
4- You get to be extra attractive
Let’s be real. You may not have the financials for a fancy display or a flashy decoration that would capture your customers’ attention when they visit your physical place.
However, you can easily get creative with how you design your online website to get your visitors hooked from the moment they land on your home page. A well-designed website could be captivating for your audience as much as a neat office delivers a sense of satisfaction for your locals.
5- Be available around the clock
In an online world, you don’t have to close your business to get that much needed sleep or enjoy your weekly off days.
Instead of shutting your store and hiding your products behind safe doors, you get to keep everything you have on display at any given time. This unlocks different possibilities for those customers you may be missing on, who would come to you very late at night or during your vacations.
Your visitors will always have something to look at and get the information they came for, and thanks to computers, any orders they might place would also get processed automatically without the need for you to interfere with the process in most cases.
6- Keep your audience engaged
It’s not just about gaining new visitors and customers. As much as you’d need to attract the attention of those who may not have enough familiarity with you, you’d also care to retain the current customer base you have so far.
Always keep your audience hooked and hungry for more. Keep offering them new things periodically that would preserve their interest in your business. Have them know that you always have more to offer and there’s always something to look forward to.
7- You get a chance at competing with the giants
Having a well-thought website can set your feet to pace with other big names in the industry. You get the chance to be noticed if your website is built with search engine optimizations in mind.
No matter how small or simple your idea may be, if you put a decent amount of effort and consideration into the process of having a properly functioning website, it will be very rewarding eventually.
So what defines a reliable website?
There are many factors that come into play when shooting for a proper website that is built to do what’s built to do best to deliver.
The main purpose of your website is to fulfill the purpose of closing the gap between customers out there and your established business. It needs to be reachable for those looking for the service you are offering. It needs to be friendly and easy to use for those who successfully land on it. And it should contribute to visitors taking some sort of action that serves your business goals.
For that to happen, there are a couple of pointers that you should be aware of when approaching the idea of having your own website.
Have well-defined goals
If your website was built to do one thing? What would it be? Do you want it to present as much information as possible to those who may know nothing about you when you have just launched your business? Do you want it to act as an online store where visitors can start ordering your online goods right away with ease?
You need to answer these questions before you dive into the actual building process of your website. Having properly structured goals is key to success. You can always extend from there once you get a solid grasp on the main purpose your website is meant to deliver.
Be legit
Be authentic with your visitors. Don’t try too hard to put your services out there and commit the mistake of going overboard with your promises.
People want to know what they will be actually getting from your business, and your intentions will be eventually revealed in relation of what you actually have to offer. So be your very own unique self, present what you do the best in the most effective way you can, and be confident in what you offer.
Be special
Being legit and being boring are very two different things. Just because you want to deliver what you actually promise your customers, does not mean you shouldn’t get creative and introduce new and seducing ideas for visitors.
Try to stand out from the crowd. Have a unique sense and style in every possible detail. Forget about standard website templates and go for a design that reflects the soul of your business. Don’t be too restricted with your website capabilities as long as the methodologies you’re opting for suit you well.
Care about first impressions
Just like how physical world customers make up their initial thoughts about your business as they go through your office door, your online visitors’ judgement will also be subject to the first feeling they get as they land on your homepage.
That’s why having an inviting homepage that offers your first-time visitors a delightful on-boarding experience is crucial for the success of your website. It’s sad but true that many visitors would just not continue through the rest of your website if they were greeted with a poor and unattractive homepage.
Do not over-complicate things
Make it easy for your visitors to get what they came for. Try to guide users through your website with minimal user interface interference. It’s true that good UI is no UI.
The more clicks a user would have to go through in order to complete an action, the more he’s likely to have an unpleasant experience with your website.
Use analytics to your favor
Adjust your user interface according to the feedback and statistics of the gathered analytics so you can provide your users with a personalized and fitting experience.
This will make sure your website is adaptable and your frequent users will enjoy an even better experience that will feel more natural to them.
There are many aspects that lead to a successful website. Always be open to change and listen to your audience needs. Understand the ultimate purpose of your website and work towards getting the best out of it.