A recent study came to our attention and its results, while not unsurprising, are unfortunate. Most small business owners don’t have a website, and worse yet, don’t want one.
WHY???? (no, we haven’t used too many question marks)
There may be various reasons for this. When you own and a run a small business you’re basically doing everything yourself and probably don’t have time to concentrate on much else beyond day-to-day operations. We’ve encountered plenty of small business owners who, time and time again, say they simply can’t deal with online marketing (well, that’s what we’re here for!).
Another cited reason is just a different facet of the lack of time problem: it’s the lack of money problem. When you’re running a small, local business you might not have the same resources that the bigger companies do to put towards marketing.
But every small business should invest in a website. The website is the most basic and essential element of your online presence. Many business owners think they can create a Facebook page or Twitter account and handle all online marketing via social media channels. While social media is great for building exposure for your company and interacting with your customers, without a website you lose credibility. Think of your website as your business’s storefront; you want people to come in, look around and get to know you. Without a website, you leave your customers out in the cold, wondering what you’re all about.
A simple website can help even the smallest local business generate leads or even sell merchandise directly to the consumer. Make sure your site is mobile-responsive, user-friendly and that potential customers can find it (that’s where SEO come into play — search engine optimization is what helps your website gain better visibility.)
Business owners may feel overwhelmed at the prospect of setting up a website and that’s understandable. But with the right web development partner to assist, the process does not have to be onerous or scary and might even be fun.