In the digital world we live in today, your business needs a website to succeed – It’s not a luxury, even for small or local businesses. Whether you operate a coffee shop, dental office, boutique or landscaping service, a properly designed website can mean big gains in visibility, credibility and revenue. Here’s how a website can help a local business not just weather the storm, but succeed.
1. 24/7 Online Presence
Your bricks and mortar store shuts at 6 PM but your website is open 24/7. A professional website means that your customers can discover what you sell, where you are and the time of the day you are open – at any hour of the day or night. This level of accessibility fosters trust and creates openings for potential customers to reach you when business hours are over.
2. Build Credibility and Trust
First impressions matter. A professional looking website shows your customers you mean business. Many people check businesses out online before visiting them locally — if they can’t find you, they might assume that you’re behind the times or not professional. A professional website demonstrates that your company is dynamic and engaged in good business.
3. Attracts New Customers Through Search Engine
SEO gets your website found on local searches. And if someone types in “best pizza near me” or “plumber in [your city],” and your website is properly optimized, you have a chance of appearing. All of this can attract a consistent flow of local traffic, and encourage online visitors into customers in real life.
4. Provide Essential Business Information
Think of your website as your online brochure. Customers want fast responses to frequent questions:
- What are your business hours?
- Where are you located?
- What do you do and what do you sell?
- How can they contact you?
It’s nice to know that this information is readily available to streamline the customer experience and take that extra phone call or follow up email out of the process!
5. Enabling Online Booking or Sales
Whether you’re a restaurant booking reservations, a salon filling slots or a shop moving product, a website can streamline the process for you. This not only makes customer happy but also takes work andc human error off of your plate.
6. Showcases Review and Testimonial
Positive reviews and client testimonials are powerful motivators to make a purchase. Your website is an ideal spot to showcase satisfied customers and generate social proof. This boosts your credibility and entices other clients to try your business.
7. Promotes Specials, Events and Offers
Good reviews and recommendations can be invaluable in influencing purchase decisions. Your website is the ideal location to showcase satisfied customers and grow social proof. This boosts your credibility and persuades prospective clients to try out your business.
8. Connects with Social Media and Email Marketing
Your site is the centerpiece of your digital marketing. Attach links to your social media accounts, gather email addresses and guide visitors to your latest offers or news. These are all channels that work together to drive engagement and get people to return to your business.
9. Tracks Visitors Data and Insights
Analytics trackers can inform you how many people visit your website, where they come from and what they look at, among other things. These findings allow you to make better business decisions and refine your marketing efforts, over time.
10. Cost-Effective and Advertising
An Effective Way to Marketing Compared to if you advertise your business on newspapers or on billboards that can cost you thousands of dollars, a website can promote your business cost-effectively. When it’s up and running, it is relatively inexpensive to maintain and update — and the reach is much wider.
Conclusion
For local businesses, a website is one of the most potent tools in the digital marketing arsenal. It extends your reach, earns and solidifies trust and enables new opportunities. If you’ve ever procrastinated about investing in a professional website, the time is now. Your Customer are Online-Your Business should be too.
