The world is going digital at a rapid pace, and it's more important than ever for businesses to position themselves to take advantage of this trend. According to the data published by the Search Engine Journal, more than nine out of 10 online experiences start at a search engine. In simple words, if a business does not have a professionally designed website, they can be losing out on 90% of the market opportunities for their business.
A great website can serve as the nerve center or hub of a company's digital presence and marketing activities. There are many ways to promote a business, including social media, PPC ads, blogging, email newsletters, online press releases, and various other digital means. A website is what strings all of these unique campaigns into a cohesive marketing strategy.
If a website is compelling, with an attractive and intuitive web design, it will deliver a high conversion rate from visitors who arrive on your website through multiple marketing channels.
Establish Strong Credibility
A website is the most visible face of any business. Potential customers are going to judge the quality of a business by the quality of their website. Even the finest business with a poorly designed website is going to make a bad impression. In today's fast-paced world, the first impression is often the last. The connected customers of today (whom Google calls Generation "C") are likely to quickly move on to the competition if a merchant's website design fails to attract them.
Whether a business deals with B2C or B2B products or services, most customers seeking to buy them will first try to evaluate a business through their website. They may want to learn about the company's background, the products or services they offer, and what other customers say about them (through customer reviews and testimonials). If a business' website provides all this information in a well-laid out manner, and the visitors can navigate quickly and easily, they are likely to win in the marketplace.
It is also important to remember that today's discerning customers do not really differentiate between big and small companies, as long as they get the product quality and price they want. A solid website lets small, locally-owned businesses compete against the most prominent players in the industry. There is no reason why a "mom-and-pop" business' website cannot dramatically outshine the sites of larger companies. In the customer's eye, the business's image and reputation will be enhanced with a web design that stands out in the crowd and sets them apart from its competition.
Be Available and Accessible
Many small and mid-sized businesses make the mistake of assuming that only e-commerce companies need a website to sell their products online. It is essential to understand that even if their products are available only through physical stores or are service providers, their customers still want to remain in touch with them online. With a great website, a business can be available and accessible to its customers 24/7.
A business can provide directions and maps to the stores or offices through a website to assist customers in locating them quickly. Many customers are too busy these days, and they may want to review a company's products, services, or menu in advance. Some may want to do product and price comparisons with competitors or see examples of their work. An efficient business website design can enable customers to perform all these activities.
Some businesses may even choose to include a 24/7 chatbot service on their website. This way, they are engaging with their customers even during off-business hours. They can announce the launch of new or upcoming products and services to help customers with wider choices. A website can also direct site visitors to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, or other social media pages to enable them to interact with the business more effectively.
When you empower customers with this level of online accessibility, the chances are that they would visit a store or office with a pre-decided mind to buy a particular product or service. It saves the customer's time, makes life easy for them, and makes them feel positive about a business.
Promote Your Business Cost-Effectively
Digital Marketing has overtaken the traditional forms of marketing by far, and no business today can afford to ignore the power of digital marketing. A website can serve as the foundation of all marketing activities of a business. It can deliver a very high ROI (return on investment) as long as a business has an excellent website design backed by quality content and solid SEO techniques.
A pleasing website design, easy-to-use navigation, and fast download speed are among the key factors that search engines such as Google will consider while ranking your website. A well-built website has a much better chance of ranking higher in search engine result pages (SERPs) than a poorly designed website. When a business outranks its competitors in localized Google Search, it will start winning market share and regularly achieving solid new leads, inquiries, and sales.
A website can be the most effective form of advertising and communications for any small business. They can provide valuable and enriching information to educate and inspire their customers through text, images, graphics, podcasts, and videos. They can cast a much wider net by reaching out to different customer demographics with unique tastes and preferences through a single, comprehensive website.
Investing in an excellent website design shows customers that a business cares about them, wants to engage with them, and helps them make informed decisions. Companies can increase their customer connections, improve customer service, and, most importantly, boost their brand image and trust with their customers through a user-friendly and compelling business website.
