The average time people spend on the Internet is about 6 hours a day browsing websites and social media. So, can you afford not to have a website when running a business? Below are the reasons why your company should have its own website.
There is no more efficient advertising than a company website. Unlike other traditional forms of promotion such as leaflets, posters, radio or television, the possibilities of a website are incomparably greater. Access to such extensive information cannot be offered by any other marketing message, which is usually limited by the time of broadcasting or the volume of the text, meaning only a part of the company’s offer is given. The Internet covers most homes and companies, thanks to which the possibilities of reaching customers is unlimited.
People use the Internet to search. Phone books or printed business catalogues are now very rarely used – if we are looking for something, it is usually on the web and more specifically on Google. There is a reason why this search engine is used by over 98% of users – it simply provides high-quality results. However, to be in it you must have a website. Once you have a website it must also be in accordance with Google guidelines, i.e. properly optimised for SEO. A well-built and optimised website will ensure a lot of traffic from interested customers searching on Google for your services.
Websites have no geographical restrictions. If you run a local business, you will also easily and quickly reach potential clients from all over Scotland and out with this. On the Internet, a small company has the same opportunity to exist as a larger corporation. You will be able to sell the products that you offer, to the other end of the country, Europe or the world.
Nowadays, with huge competition in almost every industry, image and credibility play a significant role in the customers buying decision. Customers often check out the business online and any reviews on a company before making a purchase. The lack of a website usually disqualifies this from the get-go. If you are able to view a company’s offer, contact details, photos of work or services and read reviews – the trust will grow significantly between your business and end-user.
The website is a showcase of your company, i.e. it allows users to easily and quickly contact the appropriate person or department within the company. It acts as an information centre and directs users to selected areas. Properly organised, it enables contact with e.g. sales, accounting, marketing, complaint or HR departments. A website can also be equipped with additional elements to improve communication, e.g. contact form, live chat or contact links. An important element can also be featuring a map, which allows you to display the physical location of your business to users.
A website is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It doesn’t take time off and is constantly working for us even when we rest. It has the ability to collect enquiries and continue to provide information to your users.
Nowadays companies from every industry have their own websites – including yours. Therefore, when a customer needs your product or service, they will sooner arrive and take advantage of the offer of a competitor who already has a website in place. They will be able to familiarise themselves with your competitor’s offering, company history, portfolio, reviews and contact details.
One key factor of a website is the in-depth analysis which can be conducted. The most popular analytical tool being Google Analytics. Thanks to this we can check when, where and how users came to our website. We can research various marketing channels supporting and directing traffic to our website while allowing optimisation and better use of advertising budgets.
Having your website well-designed is a huge time saver. It allows users to have questions answered, educates and presents an offer, whilst allowing them to submit an enquiry or order. Without owning a website, these responsibilities will fall on you and your employees, engaging your time that you could be using more elsewhere in the business.
Some customer service processes can be automated via your website. Frequently recurring queries can be placed in an FAQ section, orders can be accepted via a form or shopping cart, documents can be download as pdf’s which are hosted on a server and visits can be registered via analytics. All these processes can be implemented on your website, saving your business time and money.
Have we convinced you? Then make sure to contact us, we’d love to help you make your business website.