Before the ’90s, to look up a business, one would search through the Yellow Pages. What would one do to optimize their spot in the Yellow Pages? Everything was listed in alphabetical order, so businesses would try to capture a name suited to be listed in a number one or close to. Next, they would have a quick elevator pitch in their ad to stand out from the rest. People also used the Yellow Pages to find a business because it was a credible source. If a business is listed on Yellow Pages, it gives people the notion that it is legitimate.
Much goes the same today, except instead of Yellow Pages, we have the internet and websites to prove our credibility, show our business, and further explain what services we can provide. Our website is our yellow page listing. It gives us credibility and the opportunity to express who we are and what we do.
Trustworthy
Today, without any web presence, can leave consumers feeling untrustworthy of your business. As much as 56% of consumers say they won’t trust a business without a website. Some businesses believe having a Facebook page dedicated to their business constitutes proof of a website. In actuality, 98% of people say a Facebook page doesn’t substitute for a website. Think of your website as a brick-and-mortar. Your building is designed to stand out with certain signage, color schemes, product placement, and more.
Most companies today are solely online, and more so than ever due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, leaving businesses no choice but to sell their buildings and keep overhead costs at a minimum—what better way to do that than to have a website instead? However, with that also comes web design and user experience. Your design needs to replicate what your brick-and-mortar was able to do for customer acquisition and existing customers. The design of your website is essential. About 75% of users determine the credibility of businesses by design on the site. Please do your research when designing your website or redesigning your current one. If you need help, web design agencies can guide you in the right direction.
Professionalism
First impressions and professionalism go hand in hand and are both essential. Your website can display all the important aspects of your business and any awards or testimonials. Like before, your storefront was set up to attract customers, pull them in, and close the deal. The same applies to websites and their first impressions. Your design should be user-friendly and easy to navigate.
We live in a world of instant gratification, so be sure to know how the design will affect customers and keep them from leaving your site potentially losing customers and revenue. Even a ONE-second delay could cost you hundreds and even thousands in potential revenue, and 70% of those potential customers will not return. That’s about seven percent of lost revenue and a percent fewer page views. To learn more about User Experience, check out our blog post, What User Experience is and How it is Important.
We’re Open 24/7
Having a business online can mean higher revenues and low-cost overhead. Being an online presence also gives you the flexibility to be open 24 hours a day 7 days a week. This is something you can not reach with your traditional stand-alone store without higher operating costs and overhead. This approach will attract more customers and growth within your company.
Being open 24/7, you could easily use chatbots to help customers’ needs anytime or night to answer any questions they may have. Having this feature will help promote customer growth and satisfaction. Instant gratification, quickly answered questions and customer service are essential traits to have, and what better way to do so than using an online platform at all times?
Return on Investment (ROI)
Creating a website can cost as little to no money, making this one of the most maximized ROI’s. It’s a great way to showcase your business and display all pictures, products, and services. The overhead that comes with a website is pennies compared to paid advertisements/pay-per-clicks. A website advertises your business, but it shows exactly what your company can provide and what it offers.
A search engine-optimized website can reach your target audiences at minimal costs. If you are interested in creating one, you can always check out these links: WordPress.com, Wix.com, and GoDaddy.com. However, if you need a more professional website or have difficulty designing one, you can also reach out to web design agencies who can guide you.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Search engine-optimized websites rank higher on search engines such as Google, Yahoo, and Bing. This can bring in a larger amount of customers and even potential ones, resulting in more revenue and conversions. Search engine optimization is an algorithm Google uses to crawl the internet to find the most related content to the search made. The higher you are ranked on the search engine, the more views your page will get, resulting in more traffic and revenue. To learn more about how search engine optimization works, click here.
Do you want to expand your business and your profits? Having a professionally designed website is the choice to be made. There are hardly any cons to a business having a website, but major negative impacts in not having one. Fewer profits, less customer acquisition, less advertising/marketing, untrustworthy and unprofessional, and no credibility are just a few things that happen to businesses without having their website.
Your business not only holds credibility when owning a site, but it makes you look better. It makes it seem like your company has a team, and having a team is something you should always be portraying, whether true or not. You want people to believe in your business and your product, so make them believe. 81% of people will research a business or service online, and if no information is found about your company online, you just lose that potential customer and revenue.
There are plenty of web design agencies that can assist you in getting your website started. If you plan to do it on your own, start with the simple steps: choose a domain name, research which hosting service runs best, and choose which platform you want to build your website.
Division Web Design is rated one of the top New York Creative Agencies in the New York Area by DesignRush
