Why every local business needs a website
Establishing Your Online Presence
We are in an era where customers have come to expect a business to have a website. A business may be perceived as outdated without establishing an online presence, limiting its growth potential. And why a local business needs a website is well beyond just an obsolescence issue. So, if you’re a local business and still don’t have a website, let’s see the opportunities you miss.
Facebook, Instagram … Debunking the myth.
Social media has the potential to transform users into customers, but this conversion rate can significantly improve with the presence of a dedicated website. This concept primarily revolves around inbound lead generation. Social media serves as a magnet, attracting individuals to engage with your content. However, expecting these visitors to immediately call you for information may be overly optimistic. The ones who evolve into customers are those who already discern what they desire from your content. As for the hesitant ones, they might attempt to seek your website, but if it’s absent, they may lose interest.
The key to converting these potential clients, transitioning them from qualified leads to sales, lies in providing concise and informative content on a well-structured web page. By offering a simple contact form, interested individuals can easily reach out to you. Subsequently, you can initiate communication with them to elucidate your products or services.
If your anticipation is that someone will directly call and place an order, this is unlikely unless you’ve actively engaged with your online community, and they are well-informed about your offerings. Your primary objective should be to sway the hesitant buyers, those who have exceeded their initial expectations, rather than focusing solely on those who are already convinced.
Have you ever considered why many companies maintain a website? How do businesses that lack an online presence manage to succeed? Maybe you are a TikToker dancer earning income through affiliations, or are you a local business aiming to promote local products and services?
The Benefits of Having a Website
Online Presence: having a website allows the business to establish an online presence, making it easier for potential customers to find and interact with the business. Physical directories are obsolete as more and more people search for services online.
24/7 Availability: a website is available 24/7, unlike a physical store with limited operating hours. It enables customers to access information about the business and services anytime.
Showcasing Products or Services: with a website, a local business can effectively showcase its products or services through high-quality images, detailed descriptions, and customer reviews. It provides an opportunity to help customers in making informed purchasing decisions.
Branding: a website offers the opportunity to create and establish an identity, create branding, and effectively communicate your story and mission. It’s a tool to build a strong online presence and gain recognition among visitors.
Trust: a well-designed and professional website adds credibility and trust to a local business. It allows customers to learn about the business, read reviews, and gain confidence in the products or services offered.
Credibility and Expertise, Relationships with Customers: By sharing valuable content and tips, a local business can establish itself as an expert in its field, gaining credibility among customers and fostering relationships that can lead to customer loyalty.
Local Search Optimization: an optimized website for local search can help a business appear in local search results, such as Google Maps or local directories. It increases the chances of attracting local customers actively searching for products or services in the area.
Marketing: a website is a powerful marketing tool and is cost-effective compared to traditional forms of advertising, such as newspapers, print media, or billboards.
Stay Competitive and stop losing customers: Don’t stay behind your competitors who have a website. You deserve to thrive.
These listed points all showcase the importance of having a website for local businesses. Establishing and growing a business requires multiple keys to succeed. One of the most important is having an online presence. Potential customers could be lost to businesses without a website. A website is the first step to entering the digital age, attracting new customers, building customer loyalty, and strengthening your brand.
The Reality Check
How about considering the reality? Let’s take the example of a small local business. How can people find you if you don’t have an online presence, whether on Facebook or other social media platforms? The truth is, they might not. Your business may not show up on Google, and even if it does, most people don’t want to navigate through Facebook to find essential information, especially when they have urgent needs, like fixing a leaking roof that’s dripping over their head while they sleep. They’re more likely to perform a quick Google search and call the first available plumber in the area. If you’re not present online, they won’t contact you, it’s as simple as that.
You might argue that people who already know you won’t need to find you online. However, if you live in an area experiencing significant growth with many newcomers, chances are they won’t know you. Furthermore, younger generations are accustomed to searching online. They’ll only reach out to you if they can’t find transparent pricing information online. So, businesses that clearly display their prices gain an advantage, as nobody wants to feel they’re being overcharged based on their appearance or situation.
Food for thought…
