6 reasons why your business would benefit from a professional website

You may believe that your business would not benefit from having a website or that a website is not within your budget. Or maybe you think because you don’t use a computer, neither do your potential customers. It could be time for a rethink. The Internet’s reach is expanding daily with mobile and tablet devices coming on-line in ever increasing numbers and the name Google now being used as a verb!

Read on to discover some compelling reasons why you should up the ante with your online strategy.

1 Open all day every day with increased reach…

The best reason for having a site is the accessibility it provides. Even when your business or organisation is closed your customers still have a way to find out more about you. Remember that not everyone has the same schedule as you. Many work nights or from home and we all have varying family commitments. People might not pass by your store in their travels, they may not watch local TV or read the paper and see your ads. Your best bet at reaching those customers is through online Search and by simply having a presence online, your chances of being found by new customers increases exponentially and crucially right at the moment potential clients and customers are doing their pre-buying research or have already decided to act.

2 First impression count…

Consumers are a savvy bunch and rather than visiting store after store or calling multiple services to talk about what they need, their first port of call will be the Internet to determine who is the best fit for their particular requirements.

Very often your customers will learn about your business from visiting your site in the first instance, which presents a golden opportunity to make a lasting and positive impression. A clean, professional and easy to navigate website makes a difference to time poor consumers, a confusing site will drive them away in droves.

Your website can also welcome visitors with many avenues of contact even out of hours.

3 Your business or organisation gains credibility…

As more and more consumers conduct their research online, trust becomes vital as to whether or not they choose to buy from or work with you. A professional image inspires confidence and a clear message inspires action.

If you don’t have a website and your competitor has a well conceived online presence then you may well be losing business!

To add greater value to your clients and customers, use your website to build on your authority by sharing invaluable tips and tricks that pertain to your industry with an FAQs page, a news section and downloadable newsletters to keep customers and stakeholders up-to-date.

4 It can save you time, money and increase return on offline marketing…

As a small business owner you may think you can’t afford a professional website, but really you cannot afford not to. The cost of designing a website varies but once it’s up and running, a website for a small business generally costs under $100 a month and, in some cases, as little as $20. Compare this to the cost of newspaper ads and add the potential reach a website has over print mediums and it becomes a very cost effective way to promote your business.

A website will also work extremely well in support of your offline marketing, there is only so much space available in an ad space or brochure. Your website can carry the added information with ease and serve as an interactive lead capture avenue.

Additionally fielding inquiries especially repeated ones, whether it’s on the phone, face-to-face, in a brochure, or in emails takes time. With an online presence you can provide lots of information about your products and services without draining your precious resources. Once your website is up and running it becomes and vital component of your sales process.

5 It’s a cost effective way to keep important information up to date…

You can think of your website as being your online brochure or catalogue. It is easier, quicker and cheaper to update information about your products and services on your website than it is in print material. It is the perfect way of letting your customers know about the arrival of new products, upcoming events, special promotions, or any new services you now offer.

6 It’s a great way to showcase your work…

No matter what type of business you’re in, a website is a great place to showcase your work. You could include a portfolio or image gallery (40% of people find it easier to remember what they see rather than what they have read or heard) and  you can take the opportunity to add testimonials from existing clients and customers.

I could write a book on this subject but suffice to say the reasons why you should have a professional website are compelling.

KahrenR Design has worked with many clients in developing websites for business and organisations. If you would like an appraisal of your existing site or to discuss a plan of attack for a new presence please give me a call. I will not try to sell you on something you do not need or will not use.

A basic checklist that modern website require:

• Looks great
• Is consistent with your business branding
• Is easy to navigate
• Works on all devices (Desktop, tablets and Mobiles)
• Attracts the attention of Google
• Converts visitors to your site into customers
• Is easy to update and use (applies to Content Management sites)
• Has a support plan to keep software up to date (applies to Content Management sites)

KahrenR Design can help you with the creation of:

• Brochure style websites
• Content Management System websites
• E-Commerce solutions
• Integration of social media plugins
• Integration of email newsletters
• Integration of custom programming elements
• Blog sites