Small businesses are more important than ever. They play a significant role in helping the economy by providing opportunities for entrepreneurs, residents of a community (through jobs), and the overall community as a whole. A well-maintained small business website enhances this impact by increasing visibility, attracting customers, and fostering growth.
Small businesses have several benefits, including community involvement, community identity, community health, and diverse, locally made products and services. Think of the joy you feel when going to your local coffee shop to buy your favorite drink. Or, on the flip side, the joy you feel as the owner of the shop serving your community. Small businesses are great! But as we all know, several businesses have been impacted.
With the COVID-19 pandemic, many small businesses took a hit. They either closed down or changed the way they do things drastically. Some companies adapted and went the online route, as nearly 51 percent of small business owners increased their number of online interactions with clients. Business owners learned to adapt to the circumstances through reliance on their digital toolset: their website, social media posts and other methods of online relationship-building – and, in many cases, it has worked extremely well. Small businesses were surely impacted, but a quality, well-designed website was the primary tool that kept them afloat through the tumultuous year that was 2020.
Now, I know what you’re wondering, especially if you’re a small business owner: Sure, it worked for those businesses, but will it work for mine? In other words, does my small business need a website? The short answer is yes. Small businesses will probably never be the same, but with the right tools, they can be very successful.
But if you don’t have a website yet, don’t feel bad. You’re not alone. Thirty-six percent of small businesses don’t have a website. Eleven percent of small businesses don’t have a website because they don’t see the value in it. Business owners have different opinions on the need-for or the value-of a website, but the truth is – if you don’t have a website, you need one.
Not only should you have a professional website, your website should provide unique value to your clients/customers and niche. Here are a few things that are essential to your site.
Your website just gained a new visitor. Great! But what’s next? Well, let’s see if you can get them to reach out to you. This is done through contact information. Having basic contact information like a phone number, email address, hours of business, location, a picture of your business, and more gives your potential customer a chance to interact with you. You can also have things like a map of your business, a contact form, or links to your social media accounts. You have options. These options are great ways to connect with customers and can often be the gateway to getting a sale.
Another aspect to consider is company information. This is a chance to introduce your business to customers and describe the services you provide. The “About Us” page is one of the first pages a potential customer may visit when exploring your site. It is crucial to tell your story and establish a connection. Storytelling is one of the most impactful ways to share more about your brand and your values and connect with your audience in a meaningful way. People buy from brands they trust, plain and simple.
Company information also includes things like pictures of you and pictures of your work. If there is any valuable information that will make your business look better, it is worth adding to your site.
Branding is one of the biggest keys to a businesses’ success. With the right branding and marketing, your brand can take off. Having consistent branding, from your logo to your color palette, to your fonts and imagery, not only makes your site look better – it makes your business more credible. It makes you look like a professional who is an expert in your respective field. Consistency, repetition, recognition.
Another thing to consider when creating your website is adding customer testimonials to it. What better way to gain customers/clients than letting them hear from past customers who love your work? Testimonials add credibility to your website and company and help you turn visitors into customers.
Lastly, it doesn’t hurt to have a good call to action on your site to convince those visitors to do what you want them to: sign up for a newsletter, get their free trial, etc.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is something we’ve all heard about, but very few small business owners are truly familiar with. SEO is an opportunity to rank higher on search engines and get your website noticed by the right people. With the right keywords, images, and links, your site will get traffic.
Managing your SEO can be a full-time job in-and-of-itself, but you don’t have to go it alone. If you need help building your website or getting it to the top of the search engine rankings, don’t be afraid to seek out the professionals.
Designing a website for your business takes time, experience, and a creative eye.
It may seem like it’s going to be easy to create a website yourself — but almost every customer we have ever had that has tried to do it alone regrets it. It always takes longer than they think it will, and the result is never what they hoped for.
At Bhirst Media, we have experience building websites for various customers and a variety of different needs. We understand what it takes to build a website that looks good, is optimized for search engines, and is designed for lead generation.
You don’t have to try and do this alone — let us help. Check out our website design, development, and website care plans today.
