Are you questioning if your business really needs a website?

Perhaps, you’re just starting out and checking your list of needs? Determining how to get by on a limited budget while your business grows? Or you have a website and you aren’t seeing the value?

Regardless, in most instances, a website is needed. If for no other reason, to give your business a sense of legitimacy.

Even in cases where it may not be a requirement, it really can’t hurt, it is a lot cheaper than full time employees, and it will increase your business and lower your costs.

So the decision is yours but read on and see if the benefits highlighted below seem to outweigh any reluctance you have.

1) A Business Website will Generate Sales

An optimized business website can sell your product or service 24 hours a day 7 days per week.

Imagine waking up to your morning coffee, opening your website and seeing new prospects or sales. All generated while you slept.

And, then seeing that those prospects have received the Welcome Email and signed up for your newsletter or subscribed to your blog.

All, while you slept.

It’s happening. And your competition is already doing it.

But what do I mean by ‘Optimized Business Website?’

Check out this list:

• SEO – Search Engine Optimized (Get found by Google and other search engines)
• Landing Pages that convert (Once found, entice the prospect to take the next step)
• 3-second rule (your site has 3 seconds to make an impression or your prospect will leave the site)
• Clearly defines the product(s) or service(s) you provide
• Identifies your USP (Unique Selling Proposition)
• Identifies why your business is above the rest

2) Solidifies your Brand

What is your promise to your prospects? How is that communicated?

With a website, you solidify your brand. From the promise of your business to the color of your logo to the business tagline, your website ensures that your brand is communicated consistently.

Here’s a quick article on building a successful brand.

A solid brand is important in this day of social media. From Facebook to Yelp reviews, you have satisfied and unsatisfied customers that are none to willing to brand your business for you. Developing a strong brand will go a long way to ensuring your promise is communicated how you’ve defined it.

3) Gives Your Customers the Service they Deserve

Your website is available to your customer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Imagine having 80% of your customer’s questions answered without having to be on the phone for hours of the day.

That’s what a website can provide you.

And the website is always Service with a Smile… because it never gets frustrated, it patiently answers the same question day in and day out without breaking a sweat.

Your website can also provide many options for your customers to get service:

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• Product Descriptions
• Product Brochures
• Business Hours
• Chat Bots
• Newsletter/Blog subscription signup
• Service Request Forms
• Pre-Sales Questions        

…and more. All with the same brand voice that your customers have grown to love.

4) Ongoing Communication Increases Customer Loyalty

With a well-developed website, you create customer loyalty. Customer trust in your business increases exponentially with just a basic website. A well-written, clearly branded website, can not only develop trust in your business, it can turn your customers into loyal followers who recommend your business to others seeking your products and services.           

Ongoing communication can come in many forms:

• Newsletters
• Blog Posts
• Video Content
• Event Registration

5) Save Time and Money

So imagine you have all of the above going for you. Can you see how a website is more than just a “nice to have” option for your business?

Think about this again: Your website works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and it never complains.

So with all these advantages you can see how a website can more than pay for itself in very little time.