Why You Need a Website
In today's fast-moving, "just google it" digital age, it isn't a question of whether you should have a website. Obviously you must, especially if you are a small business or organization seeking increased credibility, exposure and reach to your client base in a competitive environment. But you may still wonder as to why you should have a website. Below are some compelling reasons :
Note : If you haven't yet seen the video, we encourage you to watch it first. A video is worth a thousand words! Many of the points below are illustrated well in the video.
The perceived business image.
When you are on the web with your own space, your own website, it adds considerably to your business’ or organization’s image. If a potential client asks “Do you have a website?”, you can confidently hand out your address on the world wide web and say “Sure, here it is…”. It lends added credibility to your business and increases people’s confidence in your business / organization both of which are quite important in todays competitive environment, which leads us to the next point...
Your competition likely has a website.
It goes without saying that when you are in business you need to stay competitive. If your competition has a website, and especially a well-designed, well-marketed site, they clearly have an advantage. And don’t forget, because the information age has effectively shrunk the world, your competition is no longer restricted to the guys next door. It is spread out over a much larger area.
A website never sleeps!
It’s like having your business open 24 hours a day. Potential customers have access to you, your business or organization 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can not imagine any other medium working this hard!
Sell yourself first or sell your professional image first.
It is a well known adage that you need to sell yourself or your image first before you sell anything else. No other platform makes this easier, faster and convenient than the web where you can have a stunning, high profile website projecting a professional business image in a relatively short time.
A few words about projecting a professional image ; We can’t overstate the importance of this. The perceived business image plays an important role in the long term success of any business. The flip side of this argument is that a poorly designed, amateurish-looking website can actually hurt your business image. We have seen a fair share of these!
Be in constant communication with your customers or clients.
Your website becomes a platform, a space where not only can you communicate with your audience but it also enables them to communicate with you - it enhances two-way communication. A website enables you to speak to your clients - both existing and potential - in realtime by putting the latest, up-to-date information on your website.
Have your own @MyCompany email address!
While there may be other ways to get this, an email address is generally attached to your own business or company web address. MyCompanyName.com and me@MyCompanyName.com go hand in hand. it is also more prestigious to have a me@MyCompanyName.com email address than a generic someone@gmail.com address.
Level the playing field against the big guys.
As a small business or a startup, you can’t afford to build a bigger skyscraper to compete with the big guys but you certainly can build a professional & impressive website. You have one shot at making a good first impression. With a well-designed site, your little operation can project the image and professionalism of a much larger company.
Your website : Your virtual hub.
Have a Facebook page? LinkedIn profile? Link them all in! Make your website the central hub where all of the links come together. This interlinking is also a great strategy from a search engine point of view as well, as it will have an impact on your search engine rankings. Each of these presences will feed, build and enhance each other.
It is cost-effective & may even save you money.
As a small business owner you probably think you can't afford a professional website, but you can't afford NOT to. Although you may invest a fair bit of money to develop and publish the site at the outset, once it's up and running, the monthly cost may be as little as placing a single ad in the newspaper. Compared with the cost of a newspaper ad, when you consider the potential wider audience you can reach with a website, it is a very cost effective way to promote your business.
Think of your website as an online brochure, an electronic billboard, a newspaper with unlimited advertising space, your product or service catalogue, all rolled into one! Unlike on the print mediums, you can update the info. on your website in realtime.
Testimonial
“AndromedaPixel transformed our old, 90’s-look website into a contemporary, professional design! It was a huge image boost for our company and business. AndromedaPixel worked with us diligently throughout the whole process”
B. P., Roseville, CA