Many business owners on the smaller end of the spectrum aren’t sure whether they actually need a website – here’s 5 reasons why you do (and one reason you might not). No matter your industry or your size, a well-designed website will create new opportunities to grow in today’s digital world.

1. Customer Expectations

Your customers have come to expect instant access to any information they want, anywhere in the world, at any time. While your website might not need to be a fully featured masterpiece, being able to access information about your brand and your products/services is a fundamental expectation of modern consumers. Not meeting these expectations hurts your business credibility and unnecessarily limits your customer base.

2. Your Competition

In the digital world, convenience is king and loyalty is old-hat. If your customers are unable to find the information they need to make a purchasing decision with your company, they won’t hesitate to find a competitor who does. In an age were your competitors are never more than a click away, you need to make sure that your customers can find you wherever they are – not your competition.

3. 24/7 Accessibility

Imagine having to make your physical business location accessible to your customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A well built website, on the other hand, can continue marketing your products and your brand while your doors are closed. More opportunities for your customers to buy your goods or services on their own terms is never a bad thing – even more so for product based businesses.

4. A Platform to Build Off

rnWith marketing efforts becoming increasingly digital in nature and a growing contingent of customers using search engines to discover/purchase goods and services, a website is your new best brand/sales platform. With a website platform to build off, you have options to start expanding into new digital channels like PPC advertising, search engine optimisation or social media marketing – all translating into more opportunities for you to grow your business.

5. Access a Bigger Market

The web is one of the few great equalisers in business. A prospective customer viewing your website has no way of knowing whether you occupy a small brick and mortar store or are one of the largest companies in your industry. The only thing to differentiate you is your brand and your website. A well designed website allows you to compete on a higher level, and in a bigger market, than you would otherwise have access to.

So, why shouldn’t my business have a website?

Is it better to make a bad impression or no impression at all? The only reason you should not be pursuing a web presence for your business is if you are not prepared to invest the time (and money) necessary to get a professional website built. A badly designed or outdated website can turn a customer off even faster than not having a website – an important consideration when deciding who you should trust with your business (and your brand).

If you are interested in understanding the options for your new business website, or to get a free quote, see the contact us page.