“…But I’m on social media.”
When talking to small business owners about getting a website, this is a phrase we hear a lot.
You might be on social media, but so is almost every other small business in the country.
The truth is, a website should be the first thing you set up, and your social media pages should be used in addition to your website.
‘Why?’ you ask.
Because a website can do SO much more for your business than social media can. Plus, in this day and age, people expect it.
Let’s have a look at…
5 reasons your business needs a website
1) You own the content
You may think that you own your Facebook and Instagram page and that what you post on those pages is yours, but the fact is, it isn’t. Your social media pages, and anything you post on them, belongs to the social media company.
Facebook and Instagram can change their terms, freeze, or de-activate your account at any time. You could wake up one day and find that your page has been taken down, with no idea why.
I have seen this happen to many people, and it can be tough to get the social media company to tell you why. I even know of people who never manage to get their page put back up.
If this happened to you, you would have no online presence while trying to sort it out, and you may lose everything.
When you have a website, the content is yours. As long as you have backups in place, even if your web host failed, you would still have the content and be able to get it back up quickly.
2) Google
People who are looking for a business like yours are more likely to search Google than Facebook or Instagram. I know Google is the first place I go to when I need to find something.
Having a website can get your business in front of more people than just a Facebook or Instagram page because of search engines like Google.
Google has many features that rely on websites, not social media pages, to increase local business search results. They also have many useful tools like Google My Business and Google Maps.
When set up correctly, your business’s website will come up when people search for a local business like yours. You can also have positive reviews from your clients show in the search results.
3) You’re in control
You are in complete control of what is on your website. You get to choose the pages, the images, and the content.
You can choose to have secure logins for website visitors. You can add information such as Handbooks, Forms, etc., so they can be accessed any time.
You also have control over the relationship that your website builds with your customers. You can use your content to communicate with them however you want.
As your business grows over time, your website can grow with it. You can add more pages, features, and even a blog section.
4) Stand out from the crowd
If you don’t have a website now, you aren’t alone. Many small business owners rely on social media for their online presence.
Having your own website can help you stand out from the crowd and show what makes you different.
Your website will have your logo, colours, and fonts. You will decide all of the information that is included on a page, and there will be no distractions from advertisers or unrelated posts.
After you add your photos, your website can instantly give visitors a sense of who you are, and what your business can offer them.
5) Helps your phone ring
The more places you show up when people are researching businesses like yours, the more opportunity you have to show them who you are and encourage them to contact you.
Having a website, and bringing together all the points in this article, put you in control of the message and impression that potential clients receive.
Suppose you rely on social media alone, but your competitors have websites. In that case, you are missing an opportunity to put your best foot forward and take the first steps to gain potential client’s trust.
At the end of the day, the more information people can gather about you, the more likely it is that they will call you.
Don’t Rely on Social Media Alone
In today’s digital landscape, a website is an essential asset for every small business. It provides a professional online presence, expands your reach to a broader audience, enhances engagement, showcases products or services, and enables data-driven decision making.
By investing in a well-designed website, small businesses can… Embrace the power of the web and position your business for success in the digital age!
