Why does your small business need a website?
I can’t think of a reason why your small business shouldn’t have a website. So here a few reasons why it should!
It’s always open! Do your customers have questions about hours, products, services, reservations, and more? Your website can give them the answers they need 24/7. This allows you to focus on what YOU need to focus on!
It’s basically free advertising. Once you pay for your design and hosting, it just keeps working for you.
Your customers expect it & it provides value to your customers. Customers may use things like Google, Yelp & Facebook (and those platforms DO matter). But, ultimately customers want to hear it from the horse's mouth. They want to be able to go straight to your website and get the info they need so that they can make an informed decision about your product or service. Here is a great list of things customers expect from your website.
You control the message! What goes on your website is up to you. You are in control! Hate Yelp? I have not had a client yet that hasn’t said, “I can’t stand Yelp.” I think that at this stage in the life cycles of review websites, most consumers understand that a few negative reviews were likely left by disgruntled customers who were probably having a bad day when they walked in the door. Most consumers understand that a few negative reviews are likely not the normal experience, and ignore those reviews in favor of the more honest and well-rounded ones. That said, having your own website means that you control the narrative. Need to explain your policies? Want to highlight your best reviews? Need to add an FAQ page so folks know what to expect? You can do all that and more! Have even more to say? Squarespace has a great and super user-friendly blogging function that allows you to tell your story, target your ideal customers, share your mission, and highlight your brand’s unique personality in a much more direct and efficient way than say a magazine or newspaper ad, snail mail, or print brochures.
Your competitors have websites. Don’t give your customers a reason to shop with your competitors instead of you! Your potential customers are going to go look for what you offer, likely online, and it would be best if your business shows up before or near your competitors. Alternatively, word of mouth is one of the highest lead-generates out there. Once someone recommends your business, the consumer will typically do further online research to confirm their friend’s recommendation. Or, they take their friend’s recommendation to heart and are ready to learn more or purchase your product or service- you need to have somewhere for them to go.
Studies show that once a consumer has an idea of what they need or want, they start researching, and 72 percent of them go online to find educational material, reviews, and testimonials, according to this recent report.
When you are ready to sell online, Squarespace is there for you. Depending on the number of items, your online shop could be set up in about a day! An online store can mean a dramatic boost in sales, especially when you factor in additional customers who are not restricted by geography. Having an online store means you are always open, and can generate passive income. Being online means that you are allowing customers access to you whenever they need it. Whether it’s product research, customer service, client relationship building or engagement, your website works for you.
SEO - with Squarespace’s built-in SEO functions you are more likely to show up where you should be in Google search results.
Bonus* If you go with 2 Sense Social as your website designer, you don’t need to know code or be a website expert to use your website! Because we build sites on Squarespace knowledge of code isn’t required. We build the site for you, teach you how to use it and then we are there whenever you need assistance.