Many small business owners make the mistake of believing that their company can do without a website. With small businesses often targeting people in the local area and surrounding areas, it’s no surprise that many small business owners tend to think that the world of the internet is best left to the larger, global corporations. However, times have changed and whilst this may have been true a few years back, more and more people are searching for small, local businesses online. Because of this, businesses of all shapes and sizes from roadside stalls to huge global companies can all benefit from their own business website.
Better Customer Service
Having a website for your small business means that you can deliver better customer service. Most website builder tools will allow you to incorporate contact forms or frequently asked questions pages into your site, allowing you to share valuable information with your customers without requiring them to contact you via telephone or in person. This makes it a lot easier for your customers to get the answers that they need – they can simply visit your website at any time of the day with just a couple of clicks, rather than wait until you are available.
Trustworthiness
It’s no secret that the internet is seen as the norm today. Being constantly connected is no longer a novelty, it’s an absolute necessity. Because of this, not having a business website could immediately make your company look out of date and untrustworthy. By not having a website, you could damage the initial impression that you leave on your potential customers and could even damage your reputation overall, causing you to lose out on potential new custom.
Competition
The internet has made the world of business even more competitive. With businesses of all sizes now having their own websites, failing to do so could make you more vulnerable to your competition. Having a website enables you to gain edge over your competition, as you can visit their sites to see what it is that they offer in order to determine what changes you need to make to your own website. Without a website, you’re risking your customers visiting your competition instead as they’re unable to find you online.
Potential for Growth
Last but not least, having a business website is essential in today’s day and age if you want your small business to grow. With more and more customers turning to the internet for shopping, it’s becoming more and more essential for businesses of all sizes to have an e-commerce store option. This immediately opens your business up to more growth and development opportunities, as you could use your website to sell your products to new customers all around the world, rather than just being limited to your local area. In short, having a business website could have a significant positive effect on your total profit.
Do you think that all businesses, regardless of size, should have a website? Join the discussion in the comments below.
