It’s undeniable – social media has completely changed the way we do business online. But something that hasn’t changed? The absolute NEED for a professional website.

I can throw a bunch of statistics at you – actually, I think I’m going to!:

• 93% of purchasing decisions stem from an online search.
• 75% of people form their opinion of a website based on its aesthetics.
• 75% of a website’s credibility is due to design.
• 90% of users leave a website because it is poorly designed.
• 90% of consumers will return to a website to shop if they had a great experience.
• 90% of buyers report that an excellent mobile experience is likely to convince them to make a repeat purchase from the same company.

I mean… the numbers speak for themselves, hey?

Your website is absolutely invaluable to your business – and here’s our top 8 reasons why they’re so essential.

8 Reasons you NEED a Website for your Small Business:

1. Website = Credibility

It really is as simple as that. What’s the first thing you do when you’re looking for information on something?

Google it.

Google’s almightly algorithm will send you *the* most relevant links to your search – and if the business you’re searching for doesn’t pop up…how does that make you feel about that business?

Let’s be real, who are you more likely to purchase from:

A business whose website is in the top 3 results in your google search?

Or the business who’s instagram link pops up – but they only post a few times a year?

2. Your website is an information goldmine

The best websites are a one-stop-shop for potential customers to learn:

• Who you are
• Who you serve
• What you do
• Where you’re located
• Why they should purchase from you
• How they can contact you

Informed customers make confident decisions. The more information you’re able to give them, in an easy-to-navigate way, the more likely they are to trust you, understand you, and purchase from you.

3. It offers another point of contact

Believe it or not, some people really would prefer to call you rather than DM you, or submit a formal inquiry through your website instead of emailing you. Contacting through a website feels reliable – as we all know how DM’s can get lost, tags can be missed, and comments can be ignored.

4. Your website acts as your portfolio

No matter what industry you’re in, or what type of business you are, your website acts as your portfolio. For example: Website Designer? Your own website is your first portfolio piece on display. Interior Designer? Every photo on your website is showcasing your work. Business Coach? Those testimonials and client case studies are gold – and much easier to navigate on their own page on your website, rather than scrolling through your feed.

5. Websites serve their own purpose

“Well, why do I need a website if I already have an instagram?”

There’s no doubt that social media is dominating the digital space, but each platform has it’s purpose, strengths, and weaknesses. Here’s our breakdown:

• Instagram – great for visuals, building your aesthetic, and sharing personal/behind the scenes looks into your business and process. Decent engagement and conversion rate.
• Twitter – best for short, punchy one-liners, sharing threads of information, personal thoughts + opinions, news sharing + spreading
• Pinterest – ideas, information, and inspiration. Primarily visual, with the expectation that useful information will follow
• Facebook – dives deeper into details and longer, more wordy posts. Visuals play a part, but audience is more likely to read longer posts. Think landing-page long.
• Tik Tok – quick entertainment and value-building. Reach is insane, can be high-converting based on industry
• Website – jack of all trades. A hub for visuals, for information, lengthy, informative posts, can let your personality shine through.

6. You OWN your website

I remember a few years ago, at the peak of the first wave of instagram influencers (think sugar bear hair era), when instagram broke. For like, days.

It happens – servers get overloaded, and one extra line of code in the backend can throw the whole platform out of whack. But it was broken for a few days, and when it finally came back online, my feed was transformed.

Gone were the product pushes and overly-styled flat lays of outfit inspo. What emerged was a surge of influencers realizing their entire career was based on a platform that they had no control over.

This has happened before. Remember Vine?

All of those Viners who made a living off of that platform suddenly had to scramble and start again elsewhere, because Vine fell behind and eventually just shut down. Instagram can do the same at any point in time (some even say we’re seeing the downfall of Instagram now). As can YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or any other social platform.

But your website? You own that. You control that.

Your website won’t suddenly shut down forever and leave you without a business. You will always own that domain and have full control over what happens on your site.

7. You can gain insight into your audience and market

The analytics you can tap into with a website cannot even compare to your Instagram insights page. With your website and the help of Google Analytics (or the insights provider of your choice), you can track things like:

• Who is looking at your site
• How long they’re on your site
• What type of content they’re interested in
• Where in the world they’re viewing from
• What type of device they’re on
• What browser they’re using
• If they’re adding products to their cart and abandoning them
• How often they’re coming back to your site
• Where they’re finding you from
• What links they’re clicking
• and so, so much more

With these analytics, you can directly optimize your content, and product/service offerings to compliment what your people are looking for/their activity.

8. A Website can generate leads and convert them into customers.

The best online marketing strategies integrate socials, email, and your website.

The average consumer needs to see an offering 7 times before they’re enticed to buy. That’s where your social media comes in – show up consistently and you’ll generate interest in your business. Take that interest and direct them to your website – where you’ll dazzle them with your wealth of information and value. You can offer them a free download, a consultation call, or a unique resource in exchange for their email address.

From here – market to them directly in their inbox. Consumers who receive marketing emails spend 138% more than those who don’t.

In conclusion,

Your website is so much more for your business than just another platform to create. Take your time with it, invest in it, and keep your customers experience at top of mind. The more you can help them, the more they’ll trust you.

Cheers!

Laney