Should My Business Have A Website

In today's digital age, having a website is essential for any small business.  With so many online market places available, it can be tempting to forgo a website and simply sell your products or services on those platforms.  However, there are several advantages to having your own website, even if you also sell on other platforms.

Here are just a few of the benefits of having your own website:

• You own your own domain name. When you sell on a market place, you are essentially renting space on that platform.  If the platform goes out of business, so does your sales page.  When you have your own website you own your domain name, the design and the content.  You are able to change hosting companies as many times as you want and still have all your content, the design and domain name in tact.
• You control your content. When you sell on a market place, you are limited to the content that the platform allows.  You may not be able to add your own blog posts, contact information, or other important content.  With your own website, you have complete control over the content you display.
• You can collect leads and build your email list. When people visit your website, you can collect their contact information by offering them something of value, such as a free ebook or a discount code.  You can then use this contact information to market to them in the future.  Market places typically do not allow you to collect leads or build your email list.
• You can improve your SEO. Search engine optimisation (SEO) is the process of optimising your website so that it ranks higher in search engine result pages (SERPs).  When you have your own website, you can control the content that you include and the keywords that you use.  This can help you to improve your SEO and attract more traffic to your website.

If you are serious about growing your small business, then having your own website is essential.  A website gives you a platform to showcase your products or services, connect with potential customers, and build your brand.  It is also a valuable asset that you can keep and use for years to come.

Here are some additional tips for creating a successful website for your small business:

• Choose a clear and concise domain name. Your domain name is the address of your website on the internet.  It should be easy to remember and relevant to your business.
• Design a professional-looking website. Your website should be visually appealing and easy to navigate.  It should also be mobile-friendly, so that people can view it easily on their smart phones and tablets.
• Keep your website up-to-date with fresh content. Your website should be a living document that you update regularly with new content, such as blog posts, product pages, and news articles.
• Promote your website. Once you have created your website, you need to promote it so that people can find it.  You can do this by using social media, search engine optimisation (SEO), and paid advertising.

By following these tips, you can create a successful website that will help you to grow your small business.

If you still aren't convinced that you need a website, below are further details why having your own website is best practice.

Here are some of the reasons you should have a website.

You don't have to pay as many fees to run your own website

If you choose to sell products through a social media platform or market place such as Amazon, eBay, or Esty then you are paying fees for every sale you make.

You'll cut these fees out if you have your own website.

You have complete control of your website

With social media, you are limited to their platform and algorithms.  You can upload your logos and branding images, but you can't change the layout of your business page or control the users journey towards making a sale.

A website can be completely customised to reflect your brand, as well as concentrating on the user experience and helping them through the sales funnel as painlessly as possible.

Google loves a good quality website

Running a website is hard work, but all marketing and sales efforts are.  Anyone who is serious about making money, either as a lifestyle business or as a large corporation, knows anything they do concerning their business is going to require hard work.  But working smart can take some of the burden away.  A website can be automated and collect leads, make sales reduce admin and accountancy tasks, while you sleep.

If you want a better chance of appearing in search results in front of those who are searching for exactly what you are selling, then you'll need a fully optimised, unique website that showcases your expertise within your field.

People still use Google to find and research local businesses, Google is going to list websites over and above Social Media accounts.  If you don't have a website you are missing a huge opportunity to capture people as they start their research into what company to buy from.

Your website gives you control over keywords you use and the page the consumer will land on.  This gives you a better chance at being seen in the search results and enticing the consumer through your doors.

Having a website establishes credibility

A website makes a business look more credible.  It shows you are serious about business, especially when your website looks professional and hasn't been thrown together by yourself, or your best mate who isn't a designer and knows nothing about customer experience.  It really does help build trust and helps to get consumers to buy from you.

Your competitors have a website

If your main competitor has a website then you are being left behind if you don't.  You are not going to have the same competitive edge without a website. 

If a consumer trusts you and has a choice of buying from a company's own website, or having to contact them through social media, then the website will always win.  Your products on your website will often be cheaper than they can be on a market place, because you'll need to pass the sales fees the marketing place charges you onto your customer.  If you have customers who are price sensitive, then it makes sense to have your own website.

A website means you are always open for business

Consumers can access your website 24/7, having a website means you reach those consumers who wouldn't be able to make it to your premises during the day.  Also the consumer can find out everything they need from your website, so they don't have to wait until you are back manning your social media account to answer any questions they may have.

Websites are a cost effective marketing tool

There are plenty of website building platforms available that make it easy to set up your first website on your own.  But in the long run as you use more features they end up being more expensive then using a professional designer.

As soon as you want to be seen as a serious business, it's time to contact a professional website designer/developer.  They will create a website that works around your companies unique needs and your users experience.  It also leaves you time to get on with selling your products/services, instead of trying to wear many hats and doing everything yourself.

Professional designed websites start from around £1,500 whereas eCommerce can be more expensive depending on how many products there are.  The designer won't ask for an additional fee based on the percentage of sales you make over the next few years - what you earn through your website belongs to you.

David at DR Adept (DRA) is an award winning website designer/developer.  DRA create websites that won't break your budget.  DRA also offer product inputting and updating as well as search engine optimisation, content creation and blogging.  If you need help getting your business online, give us a call today.

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