If you are wondering if you really need a website for your business in 2024, STOP!
The answer is 100% YES!
Sure, a small business could probably survive through word of mouth, referrals, and social media alone. But do you really want to just survive? No, you want to thrive, and without a website, you are seriously hurting your chances of achieving your business goals.
We get it, for many business owners the idea of owning and managing their very own business website is their very worst nightmare and you want to do is focus on what you do best which is providing quality services or products to your customers.
Unfortunately, in 2024 your potential customers expect you to have a website. It is an important trust signal that you are legit and gives them all the information they need to learn about your business and get in touch.
A great website is like having your most persuasive salesperson working 24 hours a day 7 days a week, speaking to customers, boosting your reputation, and attracting genuine business inquiries.
Our web design Glasgow team specialise in helping local businesses to build their online presence, creating websites that look fantastic and are carefully tailored to their specific business goals. We have put together our list of the top 5 reasons for a business to have a website in 2024.
5 reasons your business needs a website in 2024
1. Attract New Customers via Google
Your target audience is online, and if you aren’t you are missing out on a massive opportunity to attract their attention and increase your reach.
Google is the world’s largest search engine, and whilst Facebook pages and other social media assets can appear occasionally in the search engine results, a website is by far your best chance of being seen.
Remember as well, you could spend years building up a social media following only for your account to be suspended for an unknown reason or the site itself to be taken down. With your own website, you have complete control over your online presence.
To maximise your opportunity of being found online, you may also wish to consider search engine optimization services which allow you to rank higher on Google and other search engines for key search terms related to your business. Imagine being a plumber and being the very first thing that appears when someone searches for ‘plumber in Glasgow’. Your phone would never stop ringing!
2. A business website makes you look professional
The modern consumer is spoilt for choice and the smallest of details can cause them to look elsewhere.
Not having a website is the biggest of details and will put you at a significant disadvantage against your competition. You know how fantastic your services are and how professional your team is. You also know that your standards are higher than most of your competitors but if they have a website and you don’t, guess who a potential customer is going to trust?
Stop thinking ‘Do I need a website?’ and start thinking ‘do my customers expect me to have a website?’.
A website shows customers that you’re a real business and when you use your website properly there is simply no better marketing tool you can possibly have.
Nearly 90% of modern consumers think businesses with a website are more credible than businesses with social media alone. We know this isn’t always the case, but why fight the odds when you can so easily turn them in your favour?
3. Integrate Google Maps
There are many interactive elements and features that can be built into a website to enhance the user experience, but none are more useful than Google maps integration.
Having a map that shows your business address built into your website will allow customers to get directions straight to your location in a matter of seconds and provides reassurance that your local business really is local.
Many people see a business website as no more than a digital business card when wondering ‘do I need a website’, but whilst displaying contact information prominently on your website is important, there are so many more things you can do to improve the customer experience and increase your chances of generating genuine business leads.
From Chatbots to Google Maps to custom coding, a website lets you control every single thing about your business image and the platform to decide exactly what you want that image to be.
4. Keep Customers Updated
Recent website updates are a clear indication that your company is active and operational. Whether its regular blog content, recent testimonials, or simply a fresh modern design, if you take care of your website your customers are far more likely to trust you to take care of them.
It is also a great place to share key information about your business such as holiday opening times or new product launches.
Not only does a website make your business appear active, it is also one of the very best ways to connect with your customers, increase customer loyalty, and put a bit of personality behind your brand.
Don’t worry, this isn’t going to take up much of your time, and you don’t need to be a computer whizz either. We specialise in making modern CMS websites through Wordpress that make it incredible easy to add, edit, or remove content with absolutely no prior experience. We also offer full training on how to do so and are always here to answer any questions that you may have.
5. Blow away competitors without a website
So far, we have talked a lot about the reasons why your business needs a website to compete in the modern business world.
However, there are plenty of other businesses just like you who don’t have a strong online presence and aren’t taking advantage of all the benefits that a website offers. Many of your competitors may fall into this category and getting a new website allows you to instantly gain a massive advantage over them.
In local markets where many businesses don’t have their own website, you may not actually need a website to grow as no-one else has one either, but by taking the initiative you are instantly putting yourself at a massive advantage. A website also gives the impression of size and will reassure customers who need that extra little bit of convincing.
No matter if you are an ecommerce business owner, tradesperson, or local service company, if you want to grow your business online the importance of having a website really can’t be overstated.
5 reasons to have a website, 10 reasons to have a website, 100 reasons to have a website, we could go on and on and on about the benefits a website give you but there is only 1 thing that really matters. Do you need a business website in 2024? The answer is yes.
How to build a website for your business
You’re busy running a business, and you don’t have time to worry about things like HTML, SEO, and digital marketing. You need a website, yes, but you don’t need the stress and hassle of learning how to make one yourself and you deserve more than a template AI website builder.
That is where we come in. At Soapbox Digital Media we work with small business owners and new businesses to make a website that does them justice and gives them the platform to achieve the growth that they deserve.
We will handle all the complicated coding and back-end stuff for you, whilst you retain full control over how it looks, and the information you wish to include.
We aren’t interested in making poor products look great or dodgy dealers look professional. We are interested in helping great businesses to achieve the success they deserve and a great website will help you to do just that.
We have dealt with many a business owner over the years who is reluctant to invest in a website, but they soon change their tune once they see the power of a good website in action.
Do I need a website in 2024? Yes! Now, arrange a website design consultation
There is simply no faster way to attract new customers and grow your business than stunning website design that looks fantastic, performs well on search engines and shows off your product or service in all its glory so get in touch with Soapbox Digital Media today on 0141 429 1356.
