Right now as you are reading this, customers could be searching online for your business. Over 91 percent of customers visit a store because of an online experience. Eighty-eight percent of consumers who conduct local searches on their smartphones go to a store within 24 hours, and nearly 50 percent make a purchase within a day.
To effectively reach these customers, bringing your small business online is a virtual necessity. Whether you want to build a new website or update your existing one, here are questions small business owners often ask about online marketing.
Q: Do I really need a website for my small business?
A: Yes. Many small business owners think a Facebook page or other social media account is an adequate online presence. But if you don’t have a website for customers to find you, they could find your competitors instead. Your website helps you:
- Gain business credibility – Your website says to customers that your business is credible and provides key information about who you are and what you do.
- Show up in local search results – When people go online to Google, Bing and Yelp to search for a business, they are provided with a ranked listing of business website links. The rankings are determined in large part by Search Engine Optimization (SEO) keywords that are found in website content. Web.com creates content that is rich in SEO keywords so you attract more people to your website.
- Promote your products and services – By highlighting your products and services on your website, customers can learn more and visit or call your store to make purchases. They can also buy online if your website is set up to handle eCommerce.
Q: What is a domain name and why is it important?
A: A domain name is your web address and an online calling card that customers will remember. The small business experts at Web.com will help you select and register a domain name for free. Although you should select one that complements your brand, most good domain names are:
- Short – It could appear on everything from your business cards and letterhead to your company truck. Less is more.
- Easy to remember – A web address should be much easier to remember than a phone number. Keep it simple.
- Easy to spell – Stay away from unusual words and phrases, or anything similar to your competitors’ addresses.
- Descriptive – A descriptive name helps customers understand what you do before they visit your site.
- Brandable – A brandable domain allows visitors to quickly associate the name with your company, your website and its content.
Q: I’m ready to build a website. How do I get started?
A: There are two ways to build your site – do it yourself or have a professional design team build it for you. If you choose Web.com as your web building partner, you have two easy options:
- Do It Yourself (DIY) Website Builder – Make your own website in just a few clicks with this do-it-yourself website builder. Choose from a wide variety of website design templates that are specific to your industry, thousands of images and customizable text.
- Do It For Me (DIFM) Website Design Services – Get all the benefits of a responsive website customized to your needs with Web.com’s custom website design services for small businesses. Our writers and designers capture everything that’s unique about your company and create your website with SEO-friendly content.
Whether you use our best website builder or choose our website design services, we specialize in small business website hosting and website security so you will have a reliable site that you and your customers trust.
Getting Online Is the Answer to Connecting With Your Customers
Creating an online presence establishes a positive, ongoing relationship with your customers and drives success. We’re always ready to help you move your business forward and be your own boss.
Products mentioned in this blog post include:
Local Business Listing Service
Domain Name Search and Registration
Do It Yourself (DIY) Website Builder
Do It For Me (DIFM) Website Design Services
Images: Shutterstock
