How to determine if your business needs a website

Do I need a website for my Business? Tips to get started

10 MINS
Angelo Pocong

Key takeaways

  • Building a website is essential for a business’s growth.
  • A website can help you reach the right audience more than social media platforms.
  • A business website is essential for many business owners to compete with competitors.

Today, having an online presence is no longer optional for most businesses. According to recent studies, four of five consumers research a business online before purchasing. However, many small businesses still don’t have a website or online platform to showcase their businesses. 

This article will help you determine if your business truly needs a website. We’ll also provide a step-by-step guide to launching your website, ensuring you can make the best decisions for your business’s digital strategy.

Why are websites important for small businesses?

Having a website is essential for your business’s growth. A business website is like a showroom; it displays your products and services to visitors. The difference is that it’s virtual and available 24/7—which is convenient for customers since it’s easy to access and provides plenty of information. 

A business website comes with a lot of benefits. Here are a few of them.

It looks professional

Your website serves as a digital business card, it makes you look professional and credible. If you don’t have one, it can make your business look less reliable or outdated. A professional website shows that you’re serious about your business. It also reassures them that you’re a legitimate business they can trust.

It increases visibility

With the right keywords and search engine optimization (SEO) practices, your business website will likely show up in search engine results pages (SERPS). You can now reach and sell products to a broader range of people effectively and efficiently.

It lets you sell online 

A website also goes beyond being a marketing tool. It serves as a platform for selling products and conducting business. Many consumers nowadays prefer the convenience of online shopping. Hence, an eCommerce website helps you extend your reach to those people. This adds a new revenue stream to your business while giving your customers flexibility. 

It gives you full control 

Owning a website means you get to decide exactly how it looks, what it says, and how often you update it. Full control of everything helps you create a digital space that reflects your business’s personality, goals, and values. 

It improves customer service 

A website can be a virtual hub for FAQs, product information, contact details, and customer support. Many businesses include live chat options, knowledge-based articles, or customer service sections to answer basic questions in real time. 

It helps you edge out the competition 

Statistics show that four in five people visit a business physically after doing a local search. This means that you risk losing new customers over your competitors if you don’t have a website. A website lets you highlight your unique brand, which greatly influences your customer’s decisions. 

It’s an essential step in your customer’s journey 

Customers turn to online research to make purchasing decisions. A website offers a place for your customers to learn more about your products or services. A well-designed website, with valuable content and an easy-to-navigate layout, gives potential customers a reason to stay on your page and purchase.

Do I need a website for my business? 

Still deciding whether a website is a must-have for your business? Consider these key indicators. You might find that investing in a professional website can enhance your credibility, visibility, and growth.

Competitors have websites

Having a website is essential if you want your business to stay competitive. Your competitors are likely gaining more and more customers through their websites. So, having a business website lets you compete with the industry’s big boys, even as a small business. 

In recent studies, 71% of small businesses today own a website. As a small business owner yourself, you wouldn’t want to miss out on this trend, especially when most retail sales happen online.

Your customers expect you to have a website

In today’s digital world, people expect businesses to have their own websites. A website serves as a central location for customers to find answers about your products, services, contact details, and location. With a website, you appear updated and easy to reach. 

A website shows your commitment to provide seamless experience for your customers. If you don’t meet this expectation, you risk losing credibility and customer loyalty. Your website reassures customers they can trust you for information they need and when they need it.

Locals are unaware of the business

If you find that people in your area still don’t know about your business, a website can make a difference. A business website makes you visible to the local community, helping build brand awareness. 

How? By building an online presence through local search.  People search online to find nearby businesses. For example, local customers usually search for terms like “restaurants near me” or “car repair in my city.” Showing up in local searches helps you easily reach your target market. 

Additionally, with a website, you can display relevant information, such as directions to your physical location, best reviews, and special offers. This easy access to information and navigation makes people want to do business with you or visit your store.

You want to start marketing online 

If you’re considering digital marketing options, such as email marketing, social media advertising, or Google ads, having your own website is essential. It’ll serve as a central hub to redirect audiences from third-party platforms to your website to learn helpful information about your business. 

Through website analytics tools, you can track how your visitors interact with your website, which pages they stay longer, and where they come from (social media, email campaigns, or paid ads). These insights will let you create a marketing strategy that aligns with your customer’s preferences. 

Having a website is one of the most effective ways to reach people online. Through relevant and high-impact keywords on your website, you’ll rank higher in search engines like Google. This way, you’ll get more customers as you appear constantly in search results when customers look for related products and services.

Do I need a website for my business if I already have a social media page? 

It’s common for many small business owners and businesses to rely on social media platforms to market their business online. However, social media platforms have several limitations that can prevent your business from reaching its target audience.

Limited control 

Relying heavily on social media subjects your business to the rules and limitations of the platform. You don’t own your Facebook page, which means you don’t have control over the design, layout, and content displayed. 

Additionally, you can’t control how often a platform shows your content, especially since their algorithm changes from time to time. This could mean fewer people will see your social media posts, regardless of their relevance. 

Dependence on external platforms 

Social media platforms are external, privately owned companies. This means your business depends on the company or platform to reach customers. 

If the platform undergoes changes, it forces you to adapt to it. The same goes when the platform faces technical issues, like downtime or going out of business. You could lose access to your customer base overnight. 

Lack of SEO advantages 

One of the cons of relying only on social media is its visibility issues. While direct followers can see your profile and posts in their feeds, you won’t always show up in Google searches. This limits your reach in terms of organic search results.

Steps to get started with your website 

Building a website is the first step to achieving online success. Follow these steps to set up a professional website for your business.

1. Choose a web hosting provider 

Every website needs a safe, stable, and reliable home on the internet. That’s what a web hosting provider does—stores your site’s data and ensures it’s accessible to visitors anytime. Choosing a hosting provider that prioritizes high uptime and performance is essential to ensure smooth and fast-loading pages. 

Web.com is a trusted web hosting option for small businesses. Web.com offers affordable and flexible hosting plans suited for blogs and eCommerce websites. We have the essential features you need including 99.9% uptime for your site, business email options, and unmetered bandwidth. 

2. Select a website builder 

Creating a website from scratch requires extensive technical skills, which can be daunting for small businesses. Fortunately, with an intuitive website builder, the process is more manageable. 

For small business owners who are short on time, Web.com’s  award-winning AI-powered website builder takes the guesswork out of web design. It’s user-friendly and offers customized templates tailored to your business, goals, and aesthetics. 

3. Start designing your website 

Your website’s design plays a crucial role in creating lasting impressions. So, it’s worth taking the time to create a look that feels true to your brand. 

A well-designed website goes beyond aesthetics; it’s also about ensuring visitors can easily navigate your website. However, if you’re not confident enough to do it alone, consider getting a web design service. A team of experts, our team here at Web.com, can help you turn your vision into a polished website. 

4. Create quality content 

Any written, audio, or visual element is your website’s content. This includes blog posts, copies, photos, logos, and videos. Maintaining good quality content helps you turn visitors into loyal customers. 

However, if creating content feels overwhelming, Web.com’s AI website builder includes a suite of AI tools that aid you in writing content. Our website builder offers an AI content generator and AI logo maker, simplifying content creation and helping you hold visitor’s attention. 

5. Optimize for SEO 

A well-optimized website ranks higher in search engines. Your visibility in search engines is important because the higher you rank, the more potential customers you attract. 

Search engine optimization (SEO) involves techniques like using relevant keywords, creating meta descriptions, and optimizing images. Being unfamiliar with these steps can be daunting, but don’t worry; Web.com offers an intuitive and affordable SEO tool

Web.com’s SEO tool runs a health check on your website to identify areas to improve. Once done, you’ll get a list of actions to improve your SEO value. This simple tool aims to help business owners without experience with SEO. 

6. Set up analytics 

Monitoring your website’s performance is key to understanding what’s working and needs improvement. It allows you to see how visitors interact with your website, where they come from, and which pages are most popular. As a business owner, you’d want to have access to these types of data to refine your website and improve customer experience. 

Leveraging analytics tools helps you gain insight into your customers. Google Analytics (GA) is an ideal choice for small businesses. Why? It’s free and easy to integrate into your website. 

7. Launch and promote your website 

Finally, it’s time to market your website. Start by promoting your site across social media channels, sharing it with existing customers, and encouraging word-of-mouth among local contacts. But to maximize your reach, consider going beyond social media networks. 

An effective way to reach a broader audience is by listing your business across multiple online directories. Web.com offers easy directory management. This helps you keep your information up to date in online directories.

Bring your business online today! 

 We’ve now established that a business website is essential for many business owners to stay competitive and capture more customers. Without it, you risk losing valuable customers to competitors that are more visible online. 

Keep your business from falling behind. Take the first step and explore Web.com. We offer tools and services designed to help businesses of all sizes gain online success.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if a business does not have a website? 

Without a website, a business could miss out on potential customers who rely on online searches. This limits visibility, credibility, and growth in an industry where competitors are mostly online. 

Can I design my own website? 

Yes. Web.com offers a DIY website builder powered by AI. This tool helps you set up a website in a few minutes. Plus, it’s intuitive and affordable. 

Can you have a website for free? 

Some platforms do offer free website builders. However, creating and owning a professional website isn’t entirely free. Building a website requires web hosting, domain registration, and adding layers of security—all of which come with costs. 

Is there a monthly fee to have a website? 

Typically, yes. Web hosting, domain registration, and other services may require monthly fees. However, costs can vary depending on the platform and your chosen plans. 

Is it cheap to build a website? 

Building a website can be affordable, especially using website builders that reduce design and development costs. For instance, Web.com offers flexible plans with affordable and transparent pricing, helping customers focus on creating, promoting, and managing their professional websites. 

 

  • Angelo Pocong

    Angelo is a content writer at Web.com. He loves helping people with digestible and valuable content. He loves learning new things and is passionate about different art forms.

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