Who Are You?
Of course, you know all about your business, what you do, and what makes you the best. However, the general public may not. That’s why they’re looking you up online in the first place. You may think your Facebook page is enough. Not true! Facebook is a great way to highlight what’s new, special events, and current projects. But it doesn’t allow you to really showcase who you are and what you’re about. Facebook posts become buried over time. With a website, all the information is together in one place and you control the content.
Are you Credible?
80% of consumers research online before making a purchase. If they can’t find your business, you don’t look as credible as your competitor who has a great site. And if your competitor doesn’t have a website, you shine even brighter! Your website isn’t only for customers – if you’re hiring new employees or looking for investors, your website will be the first place they look to find out about you.
Where is Your Market?
Not all consumers will search for specific businesses. Many will search for the desired product and browse the results. If you don’t have a website, many consumers won’t even know you exist! Having a website makes you searchable online. Your website can be found via GPS and social media searches. A potential customer searches for, say, “pancakes” and your restaurant pops up. Even if the user was looking for a recipe, not a restaurant, you have just reached someone who may not have known about you. With a website, you’re no longer limited by geography. You’re reaching people across the state, the country, even the world. And your website is always open. You’re not available 24/7, but with your website, your business is. Consumers want to shop on their own schedules, and for many, that’s at 3 AM when your business is closed.
Are You Connected to your Customers?
Your website is a great PR tool. Whether you have a website or not, people can and do review your services. There are tons of review sites out there, and these reviews weigh heavily in consumers’ decision making. Your website is your opportunity to tell your story. If the only information out there about your company is an online review, people have no opportunity to check you out for themselves. Bad news travels fast – people are much more likely to report a bad experience than a good one. Your website is a great place to showcase your accomplishments and success stories. You can post photos of events, happy customers, and testimonials.
So you know you need a website. What’s next? You may think you don’t have time to create and maintain a good one. Maybe you don’t know how. Angry Ape can help! Whether you need a little help or a lot, we will help you design a professional-looking website that shows the world who you are and what makes you unique.
Jay Bilunas is a graphic designer and marketing consultant. He loves helping small businesses succeed with great marketing and design. He also teaches and tries to help up and coming designers.
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