Why is an online presence crucial for your business today?
Screen time is increasing and more and more consumers are using websites, search engines and apps to locate businesses and source products and services. If you run a business, and you don’t have an online presence, you could be missing out on golden opportunities to grow your brand, attract customers and make sales. In this guide, we’ll explore the main reasons to have a website and share some tips and tricks to help you make the most of your new site and innovative digital marketing techniques.
Why should I have a website?
Studies suggest that around 71% of businesses have a website. The numbers are growing, as digital marketing becomes more influential and people spend more time on phones and tablets. More than 75% of consumers now start their search for a product, service or company online ( source ). To attract clients, compete with rival firms and cater to customer needs, it is hugely beneficial to enhance your online presence.
Here are some fantastic reasons to invest in a website:
Get your business noticed
Getting your business noticed is one of the most significant benefits of investing in a website. Google alone processes more than 63,000 searches per second and a staggering 97% of search engine users use online searches to find local businesses ( source ). Using digital marketing methods like search engine optimization (SEO) and content marketing can help you reach audiences and enable prospective customers to find your company. If you have effective SEO campaigns in place, and your website is visible online, you can boost lead creation and target new customers. The aim is to improve your search ranking so that web users can find your content and links when they search for products or services that are relevant to your business.
Local SEO has become increasingly instrumental in recent years. Figures show that over 85% of smartphone users will visit or contact a business within 24 hours of searching online ( source ). If you don’t have a website, customers won’t be able to find you and you run the risk of losing out to companies that do have an online presence.
Promote your brand
Creating a website is a brilliant way to promote your brand and tell your story. You can use web content, blogs and articles, landing pages, and interviews, video clips and images to tell people all about the business, share your values and company ethos and outline what sets your brand apart.
Consumers today want to learn more about the businesses they buy from and follow on social media. Having a website provides a portal to offer information and show the human side of the brand.
More than 70% of customers want to buy from brands that align with their values ( source ). If you have a website, you can tell prospective and existing customers about your brand story and history, your company culture and the causes or initiatives you support.
Meet customer expectations
In 2022, most consumers expect businesses to have a professional, slick website. If you don’t have a website, you could lose out to companies that do have great sites and you’ll find it harder to create and convert leads. In 2021, more than 60% of shopping journeys originated online, and this is a figure that will grow in years to come ( source ).
If you invest in a website, customers will be able to find your business quickly, easily and conveniently and they can access critical information about your brand at the touch of a button.
Enhance credibility
Enhancing credibility is a key reason to build a website. Studies show that more than 50% of consumers don’t trust businesses that don’t have a website ( source ). If you don’t have an online presence, prospective customers might not think that you are a credible brand and they may look for alternative providers. Most companies have competitors, and often, brands offer very similar services or products to other businesses within the same area. Having a website can help you to establish trust and credibility and encourage clients or buyers to choose your company over others.
Use your website to position your business as a market leader. Provide accurate, valuable content, ensure that web users can access information quickly and easily and make sure that your pages load properly. Your website should be mobile-friendly. Around 60% of web traffic comes from mobile devices ( source ).
Create a positive first impression
Did you know that the average human being forms a first impression within 7 seconds? For many customers, their first experience of a brand is landing on the homepage or clicking on a link to a landing page. As a business owner, you want to ensure that every customer has a positive first impression. A professional, smart, attractive website can make the difference between making sales and converting leads and losing customers. Almost 60% of web users won’t recommend businesses that have a poorly designed website ( source ).
If you don’t already have a website or your site is dated, it’s wise to consider working with a web design agency . Experienced, creative web designers create visually appealing, functional websites that cater to the target audience and provide a positive, enjoyable customer experience.
Encourage customer engagement
Research shows that 83% of consumers are as interested in the way brands treat them as the range of products and services they offer ( source ). Customers want more than a simple buying process and competitive prices. Customer engagement is increasingly important. People want to build relationships and they are more likely to buy from brands they follow on social media and remain loyal to businesses that engage with them. Having a website is a great way to forge deeper connections and encourage interaction and engagement. You can add interactive features and open channels of communication, provide spaces for customer comments, ideas and feedback and keep your clients posted on updates and news.
If you’re looking to boost customer engagement, consider ideas like:
- Adding live chat
- Offering a subscription service for emails, offers and exclusive deals and updates
- Asking for feedback
- Encouraging engagement with blogs and social media posts
- Testing new ideas, such as page layouts, themes, product descriptions and content types
- Using a range of content types, including images and video clips
Compete with other brands
Most businesses have a website. If you don’t have a website and other companies within the industry have an established online presence, customers are more likely to choose them. Other businesses will be easier to find, they are more visible and clients can find out more about them by reading web pages and using contact details to make a call or schedule a consultation. Even if you don’t sell products online, you can use a website and targeted calls to action to create leads and introduce your brand to prospective customers. If your website is brilliant, it will also make your brand stand out and help you to gain a competitive advantage.
Investing in a website has become increasingly crucial as online shopping has soared in popularity and search engines have become the first port of call for those looking for products and services. Relying on footfall, passing trade, word of mouth and telephone directories may mean that you trail behind competitors.
Provide a better experience for your customers
Having a website is not just a means of attracting attention online and boosting lead generation. Working with web design companies in NJ can also help you to provide a better experience for your customers. You can use your website for a whole host of purposes, including:
- Providing easy access to customer service and support
- Providing useful information about your business and introducing customers to your team
- Offering access to tips and tricks, how-to guides, product descriptions and articles
- Solving problems and responding to queries through live chat and FAQ sections
- Providing detailed information and high-quality images to showcase your products and services
- Communicating and interacting with your customers
- Offering personalized recommendations
- Providing quick and simple ways to achieve objectives, for example, book a table or a room online, make a reservation, pay a bill, send a query, schedule an appointment or arrange a delivery
- Share reviews and testimonials
- Provide a gallery and use case studies to show examples of previous work
- Offer fun elements, such as games and online activities
How to invest in a website
If you’re looking to upgrade your business website or create a new site for your brand, it’s beneficial to research companies, read reviews and get to know representatives. Browse portfolios, read client testimonials, view results and records and search for agencies that have a proven track record in customer service. Compare quotes and look for businesses that offer value for money and options that cater to your budget.
If you’re looking for experts in web design in NJ , don’t hesitate to get in touch with the friendly, experienced team at NJ Local Marketing .
Conclusion
There are many reasons to invest in a website for your business. If you don’t already have a slick, professional, aesthetically pleasing website, creating a new site could help you boost engagement, sales and lead generation, enhance credibility and put your business on the map. A new website could also help you promote your brand, create positive first impressions, offer a better service for your customers, improve visibility to reach new audiences and outshine competitors.
