If you read my article “Why Have a Website?: 8 Benefits of Having One”, you already understand the many advantages of having a website as a small business owner. However, this article digs deeper into the question of whether you yourself actually need a website. Every small business has unique needs and is in different stages of growth. Based on where you are on your small business journey, what challenges you’re currently facing, and what your ultimate goals are, creating a website may or may not make sense for you at this time.
I wrote this guide to help you determine if a website makes sense, specifically for your small business. Hopefully by the end of this article, you’ll be able to firmly and confidently answer the question, “Do I need a website?”.
Without further delay, let’s get to it!
10 Signs Your Small Business Would Benefit from Having a Website
1. You’re Drowning in Emails and Phone Calls About Basic Information
If you or your team is spending hours each week answering the same questions about your business hours, location, pricing, etc., this is a clear sign you’d benefit from having a website. Think of how much time you could save by having this information readily available online. You could focus on more valuable tasks. Additionally, your customers would appreciate being able to get immediate answers to their questions.
2. You’re Tired of Constantly Having to Reprint Outdated Business Cards and Brochures
Do you find yourself constantly reprinting marketing materials because your services, prices, or other details have changed? A website allows you to update information instantly without having to reprint anything. This can save you money on printing costs while ensuring your customers always have access to the most up-to-date information. Plus, you’ll never have to worry about customers finding old brochures with outdated pricing.
3. You’re Losing Business to More Visible Competitors
Have you noticed customers mentioning they “found someone else online” or that they “didn’t know your business existed” until someone told them? If so, this is something to really consider. Think about it. When local potential customers search for your type of business on Google, your competitors are showing up while you’re basically invisible. When paired with a solid SEO set-up and strategy, your website gives you a chance to be discovered online through search engines.
4. Your Social Media Messages Are Overwhelming
Similar to how emails and phone calls can get out of control, the same can apply to social media messages. If your Facebook or Instagram DMs are flooded with basic questions about your business, you’re experiencing the limitations of social media as your primary online presence. A website can serve as your central information hub, reducing the time you spend managing multiple social media conversations and ensuring consistent information across all channels of communication.
5. Marketing on Social Media Has Become a Headache
Speaking of social media, have marketing efforts become increasing frustrating for you? You know the feeling. You just spent an hour crafting the perfect post, only to see it reach a tiny fraction of your followers. Despite having thousands of followers, your engagement keeps dropping no matter how much time you pour into content creation. And remember when Instagram went down and you couldn’t respond to any customer messages? Or how about when the latest algorithm change suddenly tanked your reach, forcing you to completely rethink your content strategy?
The truth is, building your entire business presence on social media is like setting up your store on someone else’s property. They can change the rules whenever they want, and there’s nothing you can do about it.
If you’ve experienced any of these frustrations, having a website may make a lot of sense for you. While social media should absolutely be part of your marketing strategy, having your own website puts you back in control of your online presence.
6. You Can’t Effectively Showcase Your Work
Are you struggling to show potential customers your portfolio or past projects through social media or printed materials? If you’re in a visual business like photography, interior design, or construction, a website provides the perfect platform to showcase your work professionally and comprehensively.
7. Your Business Has Grown Beyond Word-of-Mouth
While referrals are valuable, if you’re ready to expand beyond your current customer base, relying solely on word-of-mouth is limiting your growth. A website helps you reach new customers who might never hear about you through your current networking channels.
8. Your Client Experience is Overly Complicated
Picture this. A potential client wants to book your services. First, they message you on Instagram. You direct them to Facebook to see your pricing guide (which is buried in a post from three months ago). They have questions, so they call the number from your Facebook page. You miss the call because you’re with another client, so they send you a text. When you finally connect, you email them your intake form, but it gets lost in their spam folder. They message you on Instagram again asking about the form, and you have to dig through your emails to resend it. By the time you’ve sorted everything out, both you and your potential client are frustrated. Not to mention, you’ve spent hours managing what should have been a simple booking process.
Sound familiar? A website can streamline this entire experience. Your pricing, booking system, intake forms, and contact information all live in one place. Clients can find what they need without bouncing between platforms or waiting for responses. And you can automate much of the process. Instead of managing inquiries across multiple channels, you can direct everyone to your website where they can get immediate answers and take action on their own time. This not only saves you countless hours. It also creates a more simple, professional, and pleasant experience for your those interacting with your business online.
9. You’re Missing Out on After-Hours Business
Have you noticed that you’re losing potential customers because they can’t easily access information about your business outside of working hours? If a potential customer emails you or sends a DM at 11:43pm with questions, but you don’t get back to them until the next day, you may have lost them. It’s possible they have moved on to a competitor who had all the answers readily available on their website. A website works 24/7, allowing customers to learn about your services, make appointments, or even place orders at any time of day or night. If set up accordingly, it can be like having a 24/7 receptionist!
10. You’re Struggling to Build Credibility
If you find yourself constantly having to convince potential customers of your expertise or legitimacy, a professional website can help establish trust immediately. Customer testimonials, professional credentials, thoughtfully crafted copy, and detailed service information on your website can validate your business before you even speak to a prospect.
Definitely in Need a Website? Here’s What to Do Next
If you recognized your business in any of the above scenarios, it’s probably safe to say that you would benefit from having a website for your small business. The investment in a website now could save you countless hours and help you capture business opportunities you’re currently missing out on. However, instead of just diving in head first and not looking, you’ll want to first take some time to reflect before taking big action.
Reflection Before Action: Planning for a New Website
If you’ve decided you need a website for your small business, it’s time to start reflecting, brainstorming, and planning. Before taking any major steps, it is important to step back and reflect on your current situation.
- First, start by listing the specific challenges you’re facing now and how a website could address them. Be very specific and list concrete examples.
- Next, you’ll want to consider all of your basic options for building a website. Do you want to hire a professional? Would you rather DIY your website? You’ll need to carefully weigh the pros and cons of all of your website options.
Your goal is to decide what makes the most sense for you and your small business.
Taking the Next Step for Your Business Website
When deciding whether you need a website, you’ll first want to choose if you want to go the DIY or the professional route.
If you’ve decided the professional route is for you and you’re ready to hire a web designer, I’d love to hear from you. Contact Desert Rose Design & Photo Co. so we can discuss how to bring your website vision to life. You can also schedule a free consultation call so we can discuss your small business needs and how a website can help your small business grow!
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