You may believe that you don’t need a website to run your small business. It’s just a hassle, right? Wrong. There are many reasons why your brick and mortar business needs a website. Consider these facts. Over seventy five percent of the American population is on the internet. Over thirty percent claim to do all of their shopping online, even if they make the actual purchase at a brick and mortar store front. This is a huge amount of people that you could be targeting as customers if you build a website.
There are many purposes that your website serves. For one thing, it makes you easier to find by those who are looking for your products or services. Many people forego the yellow pages and head straight for the internet when they are looking for products and services in their area. If you do not have a website, your competitors will get the business of these individuals.
Another reason you need a website is that you can keep your customers up to date on products and services offered and what the company is up to. This can greatly improve the trust between you and your customers or potential customers. It also keeps your customers informed in a way that is easy to maintain and is much more inexpensive than sending out newsletters or advertisements.
You also need a website because it makes your business appear more professional. Nearly every major business today, regardless of how large or small, has a website. If you don’t have a website, you can be viewed as a fly by night operation that is not likely to stick around. This is a bad image to have when you are trying to build a customer base. Many people will not choose your company over the competition if you do not have a website, even if they found you in the yellow pages.
Another reason you need a website is that it will help you expand your business. When you sell products both online and in a brick and mortar store, it is almost like having a franchise. You get business from new avenues and you are able to bring in more sales. Additionally, if you sell products online you overcome geographical boundaries and can sell to anyone in the country and beyond if you like. If you are a service company, you can get out more estimates and quotes by offering an online form for this purpose, which can also lead to more sales.
Your website can offer you much more than this as well. It can give your customers a way to offer feedback in the form of a contact page. It also gives your customers a way to get information even when your business is closed, as many people often think of products and services they need outside of normal business hours. You also get flexibility in how you present your information to your customers, such as using video tutorials for using products or embedding a power point that can describe how to get the most out of services. Whatever you want your website to accomplish, it is imperative that you get one as soon as possible.
