These days, a website is a must for any business that wants to continue to grow and remain relevant. But, at the same time, nearly half of all small businesses do not have a website.
Is your business part of this group?
Some business owners do not think a website is necessary, especially if they run a brick and mortar business and don’t intend to branch out into the online retail space.
The truth, though, is that there are a lot of benefits that come with having a website. Read on to learn more about the importance of a website for your brick and mortar business.
Benefits of a Website for a Brick and Mortar Business
Why should you set up a website for your brick and mortar store? Here are some reasons you ought to consider it:
Make a Great First Impression
When you first opened your business, you probably had a lot of customers come in who were simply out window shopping and saw something in your store that interested them.
That’s not really the way it works anymore, though.
Now, if you want people to find your business, you need to have an online presence.
After all, most people search online for specific products or services before they go out and shop. This is especially true of local customers. If they can’t find your business online, they’ll probably walk right past it.
Expose More People to Your Products and Services
A website and strong online presence also help to expose new people to your products and services.
You can only reach so many people with leaflets, newspaper ads, and direct mail.
If you go online, you can expand your brand and bring in new customers who never would have heard of your business otherwise.
Improve Business Credibility
The world is changing. If your business doesn’t have a website, people might not take you seriously.
Folks use the internet to search for everything these days.
If they can’t find any information about your business, they might not consider you to be credible, no matter how long you’ve been in operation.
Establish Yourself as an Authority
In addition to establishing credibility, a website also provides you with an opportunity to become an authority within your particular industry.
For example, if you run a hair salon, you can use your website to share blog posts or videos providing customers with hair care tips or styling tutorials.
These kinds of practices set you apart from your competition and increase the likelihood that folks will turn to you when they want their hair done.
Connect with Your Customers
A website also provides you with new ways to connect with your customers.
With a well-designed website, you can more easily respond to comments and feedback about your business and offer repeat customers deals and discounts.
You can also publish a blog or post videos to reach your customers and provide them with more information.
Track Your Business Performance
Many business owners also love that they can track their business’s performance easily once they set up their website.
You can track the number of people who are visiting your site, monitor how long they stay there, and see which types of content (blog posts, videos, etc.) are most appealing.
Building and Designing a Website
Okay, you’re convinced that a website could be a positive thing for your brick and mortar business. But, how do you put one together? How do you avoid bad website design and set up a site that enhances your business?
Start by keeping these guidelines in mind:
Purchase Your Website Domain
A domain is an address that people type into their browser when they want to access a particular website.
If you don’t own your website domain, people will have to type in something like, “www.mybusiness.wordpress.com.” This is hard to remember and isn’t good for branding.
If you pay for your domain, no one else can use it, and it will be simpler and easier for people to remember–it might be something like “www.mybusiness.com.”
Think About User Experience
If you want people to visit your website on a regular basis, you need to make sure they have a good experience.
What makes a good user experience?
For starters, the website should load quickly and be easy for people to navigate. It should also be free of full-screen pop-ups or auto-play videos from which the user has to click away.
Make Engagement Easy
Let people know what you want them to do right when they get to your website. A clear call-to-action like “sign up for our newsletter” or “check out our specials” will make it easy for people to engage with your site and increase conversions.
Only Use Original Content
All the content on your website should be original, from the “about me” page to your blog. Plagiarized content (even if it’s accidentally plagiarized) is bad for your search engine rankings.
Keep Your Design Simple
Website design should be simple and minimalistic. Limit clutter and make it easy for people to read your content.
To make sure your content is easy-to-read, there should be a contrast between the background and the text, and your fonts should be simple and large enough for folks to see.
Work with a Professional
If the idea of building and designing a website is too much for you, consider hiring a professional to do the heavy lifting.
Companies like https://www.microdinc.com/website-ecommerce/ develop and design high-quality, eye-catching e-commerce websites for all kinds of businesses.
They make it easy for you to advertise your products and services and even make sales online.
Start Putting Together Your Business Website Today
As you can see, a website is very important if you want your brick and mortar business to survive in the 21st Century.
Are you looking for more tips on putting together a successful website?
Be sure to visit the business websites section of our site today.
It’s full of great resources that will teach you everything you need to know about building, designing, and maintaining a great website that helps bring people into your business.