Top 10 Reasons Why Your Business Needs a Website in 2020:
Consumer behavior has changed over time to adapt to evolving technologies in the digital age. For example, the thick yellow pages of directories, which were popular not so long ago, have been replaced by online directories with the advent of the World Wide Web.
Today, the number of people using the Internet to find jobs has multiplied, and the yellow pages have become a dustbin. According to Adaptive Marketing, in 2017, 97% of people searched online to find a job near them. Therefore, if you want to grow your business with the right audience, you need to be present online, and that means you need to have a website. This article discusses the top 10 reasons why your business needs a website design or online store design in 2020, regardless of the industry you are in.
Reason #1: Your customers expect you
Regarding the previous point, customers who have a reputable website themselves in the new world expect you to have a reputable website with business information as well. Your website can help you build business, increase brand equity, promote goodwill with your customers and target audience, and also send strong marketing messages. Think of your website as delivering your marketing message 24 hours a day, 365 days a year! Aside from e-commerce websites, most professional websites are information-oriented and try to solve visitors’ problems.
Reason #2:It provides social proof
Customer behavior is often determined by what others are saying about your business. It doesn’t matter if your brand has a five-star rating on review sites like FourSquare or Yelp, people expect to visit your website to learn more about your brand. Since prospective buyers are already looking for you online, customer testimonials on your site are a great way to impress potential buyers and provide social proof.
Reason #3: It Controls Your Narrative
While it’s difficult to control what people say about you, you can influence your brand’s perception by writing your story on your website. A website is a more efficient way than print ads or snail mail flyers to help brands spread their message, visibility, and promotion. According to SEOTribunal, there are 5.6 billion searches on Google every day, and 63,000 searches per second. Imagine, with that volume of searches, there could be someone online right now looking for your exact service or products. If you don’t have a website, guess who’s going to take over the business? Definitely not you! It’s your competitor, who has an optimized website.
Reason #4: MaximizeReturn on Investment
In the age of digital transformation, designing a website on free tools like wordpress.com doesn’t require a lot of money, but it gives you more voice to get your message across. A search engine optimized website allows you to get in front of thousands of potential consumers without spending a lot of money and can help you reach a larger audience to promote your services or products. The content on your website also influences business decisions and transactions, no matter what industry you are in.
Reason #5: A Website Adds Credibility
If you want to show the world that you take your business seriously, it’s time to invest in a professional website. In an age where over 50% of smartphone users discover a new company or product while searching on their smartphones, not having a website can hurt your credibility. According to one study, 75% of online users judged a company’s credibility based on its website design. Ultimately, people are more likely to do business with a company they can trust, and a website is the first step in building that relationship and collaboration.
Reason #6: Have More Productive Conversations
A website is there to answer your potential customers’ basic questions about your business and brand. This is especially true for B2B companies. When people visit your website, they are looking for answers to basic questions like what you do, your products/solutions, your address, contact information, etc. Just remember, when you provide such information, keep it simple and short, as consumers these days expect instant gratification.
Reason #7: Compete with other industries
Did you know that having a website gives you a good chance to compete with industry giants? When an optimized website is created, it can rank higher and be in the right place at the right time. Improving your website’s SEO can increase your website traffic and save your consumer time, which typically starts with research, recommendations, and reviews. Having a prominent position on the search results page is one way to challenge your industry rivals. So, if you don’t have a strong online presence, you’re giving your customers the opportunity to buy from your competitors.
Reason #8: Social media reach is fading.
If you think having a social media page is enough to attract new customers, think again. Having a Facebook page is not enough, because other businesses have one too. Facebook claims that people spent 50 million fewer hours on Facebook in 2018 than the previous year. Therefore, many companies are now turning to building websites instead of relying on social media networks. It is true that social networks have the potential to grow their business, but investing only in it can be a big mistake that will cost you in the years to come.
Reason #9: Expand your business hours
Having a website means that your content is easily accessible to users at any time of the day. So whether someone visits your website in the dead of night or during the day, you’re always engaging with them and you can say goodbye to that “closed” sign. Being available at all times supports marketing and increases sales dramatically, and this is especially true for e-commerce companies. It’s also an effective step towards customer service and building rapport, especially if you’ve enabled AI-powered live chat on your website that can solve customers’ basic problems when they need it.
Reason #10: Showcase Your Offerings
It can’t be stressed enough that a website is your target audience’s first interaction with your brand. How you present your business is completely in your control. In addition, you can not only showcase your offerings with specific features, but also provide short video tutorials or downloadable PDF instructions. You can also highlight awards, testimonials, and all the features that can alleviate your visitors’ pain points. This will increase the average time customers spend on your website and perhaps influence their decision to contact you.