Some small business owners see a website as an unnecessary expense, but the truth is that having a website is an absolute must for any small business. And, luckily, it’s beneficial to small businesses in many ways.
10 Benefits of Having a Small Business Website
Robyn Rivera
10 Ways Small Businesses Can Benefit From Having a Website
#1. Save more on marketing.
When you have a website, it opens you up to the wide world of inbound marketing, which is not only much cheaper than traditional forms of advertising, it’s also more effective.
With outbound marketing strategies, like billboards, television ads, etc., you’re paying to get your name out in front of as many people as possible, whether or not they are in your target demographic. But, with inbound digital marketing, you’re only paying to market to people who are already actively searching for what you have to offer.
#2. Get your name in front of a wider audience.
Without a website or any sort of online presence, a small business’ reach only extends to the people who directly hear about it from others or see its ads. But, with a website, it’s easy to get your name in front of a much wider audience.
Let’s say you have a brick and mortar retail store. By having an online store in conjunction with your physical store, it makes it possible for customers around the world to start shopping with you.
#3. Keep your customers informed.
Information is a powerful tool, and that’s especially true if you work in a more specialized industry. Auto mechanics, computer repair technicians, and other businesses that require a deeper level of trust from customers could benefit from keeping customers more informed.
When a customer can’t see a problem for themselves and doesn’t have the knowledge or experience to understand why a solution may be the best fit, it can make it difficult for them to trust you. On the other hand, when you can educate them, it establishes a baseline for building that trust, and your website can be a great educational tool.
#4. Tell your customers how to contact you.
If someone learns about your business and wants to take advantage of your services or products, they need to be able to get a hold of you to do so! Your website is the perfect place to list this kind of information and should tell customers where to find you, how to reach you, and what hours of the day you’re available to help.
In addition to adding it to your website, your business information should also be listed on business directories, like Google My Business.
#5. Look more professional.
There are more than 30 million small businesses in the United States. They’re not exactly a dime a dozen, which means that, when someone wants to work with a small business, they have options to choose from.
People don’t want to work with just any small business. They want to work with a professional small business that they can trust to get the job done right or provide them with high-quality products. Your website can help to establish your business online and make you look more professional and capable.
#6. Provide better service to your customers.
With the right small business website, your customers can learn a lot and do a lot without ever having to talk with you directly. They can learn what customers are saying about your business, learn more about the products or services you provide, learn about your return or exchange policy, schedule a consultation or appointment, and shop. Best of all, they can do so whenever it’s most convenient for them, even after business hours.
Your website can help you serve your customers more efficiently, which will save more of your own time as well as provide your customers with a better experience.
#7. Promote your products or services.
If you offer multiple products or services, it’s probably not financially feasible to advertise for each of them individually when you’re taking a more traditional, outbound approach. But, with a website, you can highlight each of your products or services without breaking the bank.
The best part about having a website is that, when you advertise for specific products or services, you can target much more specific audiences. This makes for a much more effective strategy.
#8. Build an email list.
One of the most effective ways to build deeper relationships with existing customers and increase their lifetime value is through email marketing. Email marketing is also a great way to keep customers informed about changes and upcoming products, as well as to gather feedback.
However, in order to take advantage of email marketing, you first need your customers’ email addresses! Your website is the perfect place to gather those addresses.
#9. Update your customers.
If the coronavirus pandemic has taught us one thing, it’s that things can change in an instant, and when they do, it’s essential that you are able to keep your customers informed about what’s going on.
Whether you’ve had to temporarily close your doors, you’ve had to rethink the way you do face-to-face business, or you’ve simply added a few additional safety precautions to keep employees and customers safe, your customers need to be aware of it. The best way to keep them up to date is with a small business website.
#10. Generate more sales.
Your website is like a digital salesperson, but instead of working 40 hours a week and operating during business hours, it’s working 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The number one benefit of having a small business website is that it leads to more sales, which is the whole point of operating a business in the first place!
If you don’t have a small business website, or the one you do have is out of date and fails to provide an adequate user experience, consider building a new one with the Websites 360® website builder. Get started today by picking the right design template!