You Need Credibility - You Need A Website -
Dedicated To My Friend Tim - Ignorance Is Not Bliss!
The Fact Is - 'To Succeed in Business' You Need A Website!
Having A Website
Improves your business credibility: Now more than ever in South Africa, your customers expect to be able to find information about your company online. In fact, most consumers do research online before they make a purchase, even if it's to buy something or find out something from their local shop.
A website can help small businesses increase flexibility, control, branding and credibility. Eighty-four percent of U.S. consumers believe a business with a website is more credible than one that only has a social media page. To be credible and attract new customers, a website can make a difference.
Seven Reasons Every Small Business Needs A Website, Especially Here In South Africa
A website not only helps small businesses promote and sell their products and services, but it also allows them to distinguish themselves from their competitors, especially for customers who rely heavily on the Internet to learn everything about a company. This makes a website one of the most important business assets for sharing information, building credibility and standing out in crowded marketplaces.
1. BUILD CREDIBILITY
You can build a brand presence for your business on social media, but you’re restricted by the platform in terms of design, process and technology. A website can help small businesses increase flexibility, control, branding and credibility. Eighty-four percent of U.S. consumers believe a business with a website is more credible than one that only has a social media page. To be credible and attract new customers, a website can make a difference.
2. FIND CUSTOMERS
Today, customers are constantly searching on computers, tablets and smart phones. A website enables them to find your company and learn about your business and what it offers at anytime and any-place.
In today’s competitive online search environment, content is key. Google has revamped its algorithms to better serve user searches today, including rewarding sites that provide visitors with helpful content and a good user experience. This means that if someone is looking for a product or service that your business offers, your website needs to show up in the search results or you will miss out on potential sales leads.
3. GET MORE CUSTOMERS
Ongoing business success often times rests on your company’s ability to bring in new clients. Reaching thousands of people using only traditional marketing methods like direct mail or print advertising can be very expensive and unreliable. Getting online enables you to reach more people locally or outside of your region while paying less for the exposure—and you can even measure the specific results. In fact, 77 percent of U.S. small businesses said a website is a great way to find new customers.
And, it’s not just about gaining new customers; you can use a website to better serve existing customers too. The ability to update business information 24/7 on the Internet improves customer communication while freeing up time to focus on other business priorities. And with a branded email, you can begin email marketing, driving traffic back to your on- and offline sites and boosting customer loyalty with your brand.
4. GAIN COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
Consumers want to be informed about their purchasing decisions— what they buy and from whom they buy. Without a website, you risk losing customers to businesses already taking advantage of the online marketplace. If you’re in direct competition with another business that has a website, your competitor has a clear advantage—especially if they are effectively marketing their website. A website can help level the playing field.
Eighty-four percent of U.S. small businesses surveyed by Verisign said their website is important or critical to their business. More than half of U.S.-based small businesses don’t have a website, so there is no time like the present to establish your business website and get ahead of the competition.
5. GROW YOUR BUSINESS
Many small businesses aim to expand in the market…
You must reach out to new customers...
While face-to-face interactions can be important.
Even if business often comes from word-of-mouth,
A website gives you a chance to “pass your card out” to thousands online.
With an e-commerce store, you can sell items online and ship the product to
customers almost anywhere in the world.
You might discover that customers in a neighbouring city or province,
are interested in your services, leading to a larger service area, and maybe even an expansion to regional offices. In fact, 81 percent of U.S. small businesses say that a website has helped to grow their business. With a website, you can reach a greater number of potential customers and opportunities.
6. Get Needed Investors and Investment.
Around one third (34%) identified insufficient investment as a significant obstacle to growth, followed by failure to keep up with technology (20%) and cyber-security risks (13%)
7. Marketing Your Business To It’s Fullest Capacity.
Clearly, having a website offers massive benefits in visibility, being contactable and trust:
it not only tells customers and potential customers what the business does, but can also provide a sense of the culture and ethos of the business. In an era when many younger consumers want to take their custom to businesses that resonate with their values, this has become a key role of websites.
Most people are misinformed, or have been burned in the past, perhaps by the matter of a badly designed website: many would rather avoid being on the web altogether rather than have a presence that could be embarrassing.
Not only do they lack the skills to run a website themselves, but they lack the knowledge to specify how they want it run, and the strategic skills to integrate it with business goals.
Ignorance Is Bliss
The famous English Proverb “Ignorance is Bliss” comes to mind, as a Web Designer;
I have been in the Industry since 1999, and have reached the point of frustration,
trying to explain why people need a Website, most people just believe what they have heard...
If one is unaware of an unpleasant fact or situation one cannot be troubled by it.
Talking to them you can see in their eyes what they are thinking:
"I don't want to hear about why I need a website: ignorance is bliss in this case"
Seriously ???
Ignorantia juris non excusat or Ignorantia legis neminem excusat
is a legal principle holding ...
The rationale of the doctrine is that if ignorance were an excuse, a person ...
In criminal law, although ignorance may not clear a defendant of guilt, nor is ignorance an excuse, for not having a website. The importance of a website for sales cannot be overstated.
By having an online presence through your website, you are able to reach more consumers.
The more consumers you reach online, the more opportunities you have to make a sale.
... With a website, you can sell your products and services around-the-clock.
Most consumers are looking online for information that will help them make smarter purchasing decisions. In fact, according to the eCommerce Foundation, 88% of consumers will research product information before they make a purchase online or in the store. This buying behaviour trend emphasizes the importance of a website for today’s businesses.
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