why your website is the most important tool for your business
Imporatance Of Websites for Your Business
A Website helps create brand awareness and showcasing your brand to prospective customers. It helps to establish your image by letting the audience know who you are and what you represent.
Website
We know that the world is increasingly online. For years now – pretty much since the advent of the internet in the 1990s – businesses have utilized their websites to secure sales and grow their visibility across the broadest market ever. With 75% of consumers now shopping online at least once a month, having a website is a necessity for any brand.
Since the pandemic hit us in 2020, the emphasis on online interactions has drastically increased. With customers unable to physically visit businesses due to lockdown restrictions and health concerns, many had to resort to websites to continue to purchase the goods they wanted. It’s no surprise that 84% of people reported using digital channels more frequently last year.
DISCOVER
reasons why your business website is so important
Reach more people
Align with your customer experiences
Build your brand presence
Improve credibility
Access the power of search marketing
Interact with your customer, whenever they need you
Your shop window
Reach more people
During the pandemic, everything had to become digital. Events turned into webinars, and gatherings became Zoom calls. Customers could no longer visit the businesses they typically use, meaning restaurants had to turn to online takeaway orders, retailers had to focus on digital purchases, and other companies had to find ways to service their customers from afar. To make this happen, these businesses needed a website.
Although it was an adjustment for many, the diversification of their offerings and the shift to digital during the pandemic showed the power of the internet to reach people even in extreme circumstances, which continues to stand today. By utilizing online platforms, brands can reach almost anyone from the comfort of their own home. There are no barriers – except for poor connection!
By having a website, you have the opportunity to target customers anywhere in the world, rather than having to rely on foot traffic or local visitors.
Align with the customer journey
As we’ve already mentioned, online shopping offers convenience by giving access to businesses anywhere and at any time. This is likely why, according to data from Think With Google in 2018, 63% of shopping occasions begin online – and this may be even higher since the pandemic.
Many consumers will rely on the internet to research their purchasing decisions as well as make physical purchases. Your website acts as a platform to educate people about your business, products and services whenever they need it, helping to move them along their journey until they choose to buy from you. If you have an e-commerce site, you can then enable them to make their purchase easily.Having a website will also help you target customers more efficiently by connecting it to your digital marketing efforts.
Build your brand presence
A website should be at the heart of your digital presence. There are several online platforms that brands must utilize to connect with customers, including social media, email, blogs, search and advertising. While these may take place on other channels, they will ultimately point back to your website as the hub where leads can find out more about your brand and take action – such as completing a sale.
Due to the relationship between your website and other platforms, having one is essential to build your digital presence. We’ve already established that most shopping occasions begin online, so improving the visibility of your business (such as through social media or SEO) will empower you to contact more customers and develop essential relationships.
Improve credibility
With the increased reliance on the web when researching purchasing decisions, many consumers will first search for a brand to determine if it is worth buying from. If you don’t have a website or offer a poor experience on yours, it could deter people from going any further or even make them fear you aren’t a legitimate company.
Having a professional website is critical to assuage these concerns and leave a positive impression. This will allow you to build your credibility while effectively engaging people and giving them enough trust in you to make a purchase.
Access the power of search
Search engines are key drivers of traffic and e-commerce. 53.3% of all website traffic comes from organic search, and 49% of users say they use Google to discover a new product.
In order to reap the rewards of search, you need to have a website that is optimized for search engines. Several factors make up SEO on a website, including creating an inclusive customer experience, a simple navigating structure and targeting relevant keywords for your business.
interact with your customer, whenever they need you
Most businesses or retailers have rigid working hours. For example, a typical shop on the high street may be open from 9 am to 5 pm, whilst most corporate offices are closed over the weekends. If a customer wanted to buy something, they would need to be present at these times and in the appropriate location.
However, with web-enabled online shopping, and with automation tools, you gain from business continuity and as a result, your customer is free to buy and interact with you whenever suits them. In the case of e-commerce, this could enable them to purchase outside of your normal bricks and mortar opening hours. This includes bank holidays when you might not be open, but customers still want to buy – which is why many businesses choose to go live with Boxing Day sales on Christmas Day!
Your shop window
Your website is the online equivalent of your shop window. Pretty much every business has one, but making sure it is an inviting representation of your business and equipped with the right information is equally integral if you want to succeed.
Use your website as a place to highlight why your business matters, and why anyone should want to be involved – either as a customer, employee, partner or supporter. This means sharing your brand story, describing your values and showcasing your products and services.
Summary
Since most people today are making their purchases online, as a business you are expected to have an online presence. It’s the norm, and if you don’t, then you are missing out on the biggest market potential, in fact, how are you surviving? Not only will your online presence be your biggest chance to unlock sales and grow your company but It will also enable you to develop your overall online reputation, which will enhance your digital and search marketing efforts further. Due to the importance of a website, it’s also crucial that yours stands out from the crowd and represents your brand in a welcoming way that engages users while providing a smooth experience. By doing this, you will encourage people to buy from your business when they want to while targeting and converting leads from anywhere. Without a website, you run the risk of being unseen in the market or overshadowed by your competitors, which will be to your detriment – so every business must utilize its website as the valuable tool it is.
