Why a good website is important to your small business’ bottom line

Around 29% of the world’s small businesses lack a website. Common excuses for not having a website include phrases like “I’m not tech savvy enough,” “My industry does not need a website,” or “Websites aren’t valuable enough to maintain.” All of these statements are misconceptions that prevent small businesses from reaching their full potential. It has never been easier to create an online presence with the many easy-to-use resources available to entrepreneurs and the number of people who can create and manage a site for you if it’s not your thing. No matter what industry you are in, if you look up your top competitors, I can almost guarantee they have a strong web presence. Websites are crucial to success in today's business world. For every 100 Americans, 77 of them have a smartphone, which means that 77% of Americans have the ability to search “small business near me,” and without a website, you might as well not exist to those people. Florida is home to over 20 million people, and Central Florida is home to over 8 million people. Considering 77% of people have smartphones, you could potentially be missing out on over 6 million customers in Central Florida. The Orlando area, which includes Kissimmee, St. Cloud, Sanford, and Orlando, is one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the US, which makes it difficult for a small business to stand out. An excellent website is one way to separate yourself from the sea of options customers have in front of them. Having a GOOD website is a win-win situation for you and your future customers, and here is why!

Websites attract more customers!

Almost everyone has an unlimited amount of knowledge in the palm of their hand at all times. Consumers recognize that information is an important resource and they gather as much of it as they can on any product or service they consider purchasing. If you are operating a small business without a website, you are preventing consumers from discovering you.According to Google’s 2018 statistics, local searches lead 50% of mobile users to visit stores within one day. Having an online presence allows you to be exponentially more discoverable to potential customers. A website is not just a way to be discovered; it is a platform to tell your company’s story, share the amazing things your company is up to, and explain what it is that makes your company special.If your business does not have a website, it gives the impression that you will not have a business for very long. You want to be the business that makes your competitors think, “Wow, I should really get a website.” A professional looking web presence provides credibility to your business. You can choose how your company is represented on your homepage through its content and photos. The homepage provides a first impression of your company to the consumer.

A bad website is worse than no website!

Having a website is not always a good thing. A poorly made website can actually deter customers. A slow, sloppy looking website that was thrown together so you can have some kind of an online presence will give customers a bad impression of your business. If a customer is researching local businesses for a service and your company has a sleek, mobile-friendly website with loads of content compared to the competition, which has a sluggish, dated site that is difficult to navigate, they will most likely choose your business.

Websites benefit the consumer!

A good website will engage potential customers and get them excited about the product or services you offer. The information-hungry consumer wants to know as much as they can before they spend their hard-earned money. An optimized website will provide them the information they crave no matter what platform they use to search. According to official Google statements, more than 50 percent of search queries globally now come from mobile devices. It is more important than ever to make sure your site is mobile-friendly and easy to navigate. Purchase decisions may be more researched than ever, but they are also more impulsive. It is imperative that your site is accessible on any device.Consumers gain a sense of security when a website can give them a clear sense of what to expect from a product or service as they follow the buyer’s journey. As a consumer finds the information they wanted, they may stumble across some additional content you provide, which gets them more interested and will make them enjoy the experience even more. A customer that has a positive experience on your easy to navigate website is much more likely to buy than someone who has never heard of your business.