Small Business Marketing 101: Reasons for a Website

When it comes to small business marketing, there are so many ways to promote your business that you might feel overwhelmed with your options. However, when it comes to small business marketing, there is really only one thing you need to start with: A strong business website.

Unfortunately, more than 20 percent of small businesses do not possess a website. These companies are, quite frankly, losing out on business and visibility that could make all the difference in the success of their company. Here are just a few reasons to embrace a website as part of your small business marketing endeavors.

A website provides the basis for the rest of your online small business marketing.

When you promote your business online, your website serves as the basis for all of your other efforts. For example, the website, and the content on it, is the basis for your search engine optimization efforts.

Links to your site are the basis for your Google AdWords ads. And your website is the place people will go when they hear about your business in social media and want to find out more. Without a website, therefore, your small business marketing efforts are stalled before they even begin.

People go online before making purchases.

Another reason to embrace a website as part of your small business marketing plan is because people simply expect businesses to have one. For example, 97 percent of people who want to find a local business go online first.

This statistic, put another way, means that if you do not have a website, you are only reaching 3 percent of your potential customer group. Expanding your audience by 97 percent is reason enough to build, and promote, an incredible website, stat. In a digital age, you have to be online in order to keep up with the ever changing ways in which people find and engage with businesses.

A website supports small business marketing by building credibility.

In today's age, people aren't just going to believe what you say about yourself. They are going to look for third party verification of your company's reliability, competence, and professionalism.

You can rely on other review sites to do the work for you. However, your other option is to use your website to build credibility. The very existence of a website is enough to make your business appear more trustworthy in customers' eyes. However, the website itself can serve as a platform for testimonials and other third party verification for your company.

If, therefore, you want to convince people that they can trust you, you will need to build and maintain a beautiful site. And, you need to make sure that site reflects the positive things people are saying about you.

A website keeps your small business marketing going around the clock.

Finally, a website can support your small business marketing by allowing you to market your business around the clock. For example, your company may close physically at 5pm, but people can still order your products and services from your site at, say, 2 am.

This constant availability makes it easier for customers to find and engage with your company, even when you are not physically present in a brick and mortar store. And that means you can create connections and earn business, even while you sleep.

A website is critical to your small business essential marketing, and your own profitability. Here at Distinct Web Design, we specialize in creating websites that are  not just beautiful, but also carefully crafted for small business marketing success. In addition, we can help you forge a powerful digital marketing campaign that will take your business,I and your website, to the next  level of productivity and success. Reach out today for help creating the site you need.