10 Tips for your Business
LOCAL BUSINESSES DO NOT NEED WEBSITES!
How often has it been said? when you are trading locally it is easy to dismiss the need for a website, as your business could probably make do without one but that doesn’t mean it makes good business sense, after all you are in business for the purpose of making money, right? to create security in your life? to leave a legacy or provide an income in retirement? none of this is possible if your business fails to survive and without growth it will. Here are my top 10 reasons why YOUR business needs a website.
First: Don’t get left behind
It is estimated that today around 3.2 billion people use the internet every day and over 70% of websites are also viewed on mobile devices, over 80% of users make regular purchases online and 95% of people have used the internet to make contact with a business, whether International, National or Locally. Why would you not want to get in on the action?
Second: Showcase for your company
Out there on the streets it’s hard, hard to choose a trader or company that you can trust and rely on not to take you for a ride. Having a website allows you to showcase your finest work in a portfolio or demonstrate the trust others place in you with a testimonial section. Hotels can display a gallery illustrating the comfort a guest will experience if they stay there. All this affirms with your potential clients that you are a trustworthy company with skills or products they need.
Third: Professionalism
If you want to be taken seriously then you need to take your business seriously. People expect companies to have a website. Not having one casts doubt in people’s minds about how well established you are or even how seriously you take your own company, you know that you mean business so now show everyone else.
Fourth: No half day closing
It works while you sleep, A website is always there to deliver your message 24 hours a day, so even if you are away from work, people still have a way of getting information about your products and services and can contact you via the site.
Fifth: Open your market
Dealing locally is nice, it gives me a warm fuzzy feeling to use local companies but that doesn’t mean you should limit your growth. Having a website opens you up to the entire world. just because Geoff is selling his olive oil at the local market doesn’t mean that he can’t ship it out to China too!
Sixth: Low hanging fruit
Websites are not as expensive as you might think but getting a good one is worth the investment. advertising in a local directory can cost anywhere between £500 – £6000 per year! a website that is well maintained with good content and is search engine optimised is the gift that keeps on giving and at the same price as one years worth of paper advertising, doesn’t it make sense to open your doors to the world?
Seventh: Building bridges
Having a point of contact on the internet lets you keep your clients close to you no matter where they are. Regular posts, newsletters and updates mean that you keep your brand fresh in people’s minds and can make sure that you are their first stop when they need you.
Eighth: Spread the love
Once you have a website it is a launch pad for other great marketing opportunities. You can run competitions and giveaways, share the good news or spread the word on your recent offers, people will feel the love!
Ninth: Stability
You might be trading very well locally but you can’t put all your eggs in one basket and a website is going to add to your stability by increasing your opportunities to earn.
Tenth: The sky’s the limit
Every town has a limited population and that is your local customer base, chances are you aren’t the only person in your trade in the area. Getting online takes you out of that limitation and opens your business to the potential growth that would have otherwise passed you by. There are many more reasons to own your own website even if you are a local business, I know how it has opened my doors to more trade and I know it can do the same for you.