Turning a profit in the first five years of opening is a difficult milestone to reach for a small business. But trying to do this while also looking to get ahead of the competition is nearly impossible if your small business doesn’t have a website in this technologically dependent world. Here are 5 reasons why your small business needs a website in 2020.
1. Always Open
Most businesses are not open 24/7, but the ones with websites have the ability to be accessible at any time. This is a major advantage for all businesses with websites, small or large, and a massive disadvantage for those businesses lacking a digital presence. It gives consumers the opportunity to research or purchase your small businesses product or service without you having to lift a finger. Also, if there were anything to happen to your physical store and you weren’t able to be open to the public physically, with an online store anyone with access to technology can reach you.
2. Cheap and Easy
At first glance, websites seem like they are a complex coding nightmare only meant for computer geniuses. But content management systems (CMS) like WordPress, Squarespace, and Wix made this process extremely simple for the common person to create their own website. Not only is the process easy, but it won’t put a hole in your pocket either. Some CMS software will host your website for a small monthly fee and some will even host it for free. Agencies also offer cost effective hosting services for your website. You can visit our hosting services here!
3. Credibility
It’s difficult to be credible if you’re a small business because of your lack of notoriety. This can be especially hard to obtain if your digital footprint isn’t maximized. Having a secure website for your small business allows your customers to view your site as a safe, professional, and credible platform that they can visit worry free. Online reviews and testimonials are also great ways your business can establish credibility online. A website with a lot of reviews shows that many people are familiar and comfortable with that business, especially if those reviews are positive ones.
4. Collect Data
A great way to understand your customers’ opinions and reactions towards your company is to consistently collect data. If you have a website, you can see the traffic it generates, who your traffic consists of, what works and what doesn’t. This is key to progressing your small business and getting ahead of your competitors because you can know if your current strategy is beneficial or detrimental to your business. When it comes to owning a business it is crucial to understand your customer’s needs because everything you do is for them. With that being said, collecting valuable customer data could make or break your small business.
5. To Be a Legitimate Competitor
Let’s face it, in 2020 it’s just as important to have a digital presence for your business as having a physical presence. The entire world is more online than ever and if you don’t keep up with the times your business will fall behind. It’s almost a guarantee that your competitors already have websites running which gives them a huge advantage over your business. To be a legitimate business competitor in today’s world, you must be online and there is no way around it.
If you own a small business and you aren’t running a website, you are at a major disadvantage to your fellow competitors who are online. It’s a simple, cheap and quick process that can maximize your profits and reach consumers you never would have reached otherwise. At the end of the day, which seems more professional: a business with a website, or a business without one?
Is Your Small Business In Need of a Website?
Lakewood Web Design can help your business’s creative and marketing needs. We can design, create, and manage your website and ensure that it is always running properly. Whether that be a small one-page website or a large eCommerce site, we will customize a website specifically tailored to your business’ needs. Contact us today to grow your small business into an empire!
