Q: My small business only has a few employees and our products aren’t suitable to be sold online. Do I really need a website?
A: That’s a very good question. In fact it’s one we come across frequently and it is an important one. So should your business have a website, even if your business is small, or niche, or B2B? Yes. Absolutely. If you have a business then you should have a website. Also don’t be quick to dismiss your product or service as one that can’t be sold online or your customers as internet users.
One of the most surprising things when you come across small businesses is just how many of them don’t have a site. You’d be forgiven in thinking that in this digital age, everyone surely knows the importance of a website to a business – clearly this isn’t the case though. Any company who doesn’t have a website is missing out on one of the most powerful tools available.
We’re not suggesting that you should put all of your resources into selling your products or services over the internet, the point is that at the very least you should have an online presence that customers and potential customers can quickly and easily find out more about you and your products/services. A company website is also helps you to establish your credibility as a business.
If you have a site you must make sure it’s professional looking, responsive and easy to use to be taken seriously. Especially as most people, no matter what their industry, now search online for information prior to purchasing or visiting a physical store, so your website could very well be the first impression potential buyers get of your business.
One great thing the internet has done is level the playing field when it comes to the market place and competing with bigger competition. By having a well designed site you small business can project the image and professionalism of a much larger, well established operation. When it comes to benefiting from a site, size doesn’t matter. Whether you’re a one man show or a 10,000 employee organisation; if you don’t have a website you will be losing business out to companies who do.
One contradicting piece of advice, given the impact and impression a website gives your company, you would be better off not having a website at all than having one that makes your business look bad.
There are still many small business that do not have a site, for various reasons, but most comely because they believe that they are expensive. In truth a website can be built for less than you think, you don’t need to spend tens of thousands of pounds for a site which has hundreds of pages. Just a simple, one page site that tells people about you and your products / services will be enough.
A website is an important part of your business – treat it as such.
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