7 Reasons why your business should have a website

Starting a website

The 7 Reasons why your business should have a website

#1

7 Reasons why your business should have a website

More people are looking online for information about businesses. When a person moves to a new town or city what is the most common way that they find shops and services? They Google it! For this reason, your business needs presence online. It helps people who are unfamiliar with the area to find you.

Your website is your online store front. Gone are the days where a person check’s the phone book for a business’s contact details, now they Google it. And if they don’t find the contact details of the business they were looking for, then they often find a competing business instead. It is the same as a person finding a “closed” sign on your door, then going to a competitor instead.

Get a one-up on your competition. If your competitors do not have a website, but you do, then you are one-up on your competition. If your competitors do have a website, then the real games begin. Now starts the race for google ranked space but what’s next? Client reviews.

#2

A website gives your advertising campaign a boost.
Stationery, business cards and other advertisements are limited to the amount of information they can hold. By placing your website address on your static advertisements, you can direct clients to a place with more info. The desire for more information is usually the first response a person has to a well-designed advertisement.

It Gives a professional appearance to your business. Many people expect a professionally run businesses to have a website. Or at least a professional e-mail address (e.g. info@yourbusiness.co.za). By having your own domain name e-mail address, instead of @gmail.com, your business has an advantage. Whether you are a one-man shop or have multiple departments within your organization, structure is important. By having a sales@yourbusiness.co.za, info@yourbusiness.co.za and acounts@yourbusiness.co.za you help potential customers understand who to get in touch with at your organisation.

“Those seeking information on what you offer are doing so at 10pm at night.”

#3

Answer frequently asked questions.
Do you find that people query your company (usually by phone) seeking more  information? Time is money and answering question after question takes time away from your human resources. Instead, include answers to frequently asked questions on your website. This way you are giving your potential clients a sense of company depth. And, a means to help themselves. People are more likely to look for a company that gives them all the information they need online. As opposed to the old fashioned “phone-around town” approach. Often, those seeking this info are doing so at 10pm at night. Your website handles queries while you  rest.

Open 24/7. A public website is open 24/7. This is especially useful for those who need to get things done or research  after hours.

#4

Get your customers familiar with what you are selling. When selling, the first thing you do is to make sure the client is familiar with what you are trying to sell them. Everyday more and more customers are looking online for info on products or services. This querying happens long before they even contact the business. This way, when the client calls, half the sale is already done if they have seen what you offer on your website.

#5

Let your customers know who you are. People generally prefer to do business with people they know ..Or get to know. By having an “about us” page, customers may get to know what you do and importantly, how you do things. A “references” is a good idea too. You get to showcase previous work with happy customer responses, building trust with future clientele.

Make referrals easier. Let’s say that somebody loved the service they received at your business. It has become so much easier for them to tell their friends with Google places. Just try it for yourself. Google search your business  and see what Google knows about you. Be sure that the information Google has about your business is relevant and up to date.

E-mail made easy. When you start a new website host, often e-mails are associated with the hosting plan. You now have the option to create and use e-mail addresses matching your web address. It is a really good idea to have a contact form included on the contact page of your website. This allows people to get in touch with you quickly and easily, without the fuss of a full paragraphed e-mail. Customers don’t have to open up their email or even phone to contact you. It is right there in front of them (on your website). All this with one click of a button!

#6

Communicate changes quickly. The time it takes to update written information on your website is considerably shorter than it takes to update in printed adverts. Especially with easy self editing options. Even if self editing is not your cup of tea, it shouldn’t take longer than 24-hours for a website’s written content to be updated. Depending of course on the amount of information to change..

If your physical business address changes, it will only take an hour or so to change contact details on a website. How much longer will it take to change on a billboard?

#7

Websites cost a fraction of what printed adverts cost. How much would it cost you to have a one page advertisement in every newspaper in South Africa? Or on radio? A website is live to everybody world-wide, and costs much less to make. There are no printing costs, no mailing costs and it is accessible to everyone online. Once a website is up and running it generally costs you less than R200 a month to keep it running well.

In Conclusion

A website is accessible on a global scale, to a broad customer base. Instead of being limited to the city and surrounding area that your store is in, you now have the potential for attracting customers on a national or global scale.

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