Check this out… 81% of people research a business or service on the internet prior to making a purchase decision. That’s 25.92 million people searching for businesses online. Yet, 46% of business owners listed “Business currently doesn’t need one” as their #1 reason for not having a website. We’re not statisticians, but we can see that there’s a glaring disconnect here.
1 – To be found
You company could have the best customer service, offer high quality products, but nothing this matter if people can’t find you and your business.
Having a website is a simpler way to be found today on the internet. The main search channel that a person uses when curious about any subject is Google. If you are curious about your niche or your business, it’s no different.
If you search for your business, it’s important to have a good and optimised site for the first search result to be linked to your site. Now it is research on your customer issue, it is important that you have good content and a good blog so that your business is approached in front of customers. And be in all social medias.
2 – To gain market authority
If you know two solutions to your problem and only one has its own website, who would you trust the most? On a self-owned page or Facebook fan page?
We don’t want to downplay social media – as we mentioned above, they play a key role in a Digital Marketing strategy. The point here is that a website is much more customizable and professional than a social profile.
With a website, your business has many more gimmicks to promote your product. What’s more, by creating content you can prove to your persona that you understand the subject and have the technical ability to be the solution to the problems it faces. It is a very efficient differential in this decision making.
3 – To expand the business
What is the purpose of your business? Do you have any plans to expand it? One of Digital Results’ missions is to help companies achieve predictable and scalable growth through Inbound Marketing.
To do this, we apply a proven methodology that, with the help of RD Station software, helps thousands of customers daily in this successful escalation. However, none of this would be possible if these companies did not have a website with their own domain.
To acquire more customers, you need more Leads. And to generate more Leads, you need more visitors. And to get more visitors, you need this site to receive them.
The site is often the first channel of contact between your company and the future customer. Inbound Marketing allows these customers to come to you instead of going after them. In the long run, it is a very advantageous process.
4 – To relate to your audience
We always talk here about Digital Results, both on blogs and conversations with our clients and clients, which is a form of economy that has shifted to the present internet every minute of our day.
Marketing no longer plays a role just in marketing and advertising. It is absolutely normal for you to research your brand or your problem on the Internet before making a purchase decision. And this is where your company website comes in.
There are several ways to maintain a relationship with your audience on your site. And all of them are very useful:
Post blog posts or rich materials about problems that a cutting-edge function;
Respond to people’s comments on blog posts;
Create a relationship center with answers to the most common questions;
Record and provide online training for clients;
Have a real time chat to serve customers.
We only cite 5, but there are many other possibilities. What is important is to know that the site is like your virtual office, through its content accessed as your company.
5 – To sell
According to the good practices of the Inbound Marketing methodology, after attracting, converting and relating, the time has come for the sale.
And what is the role of your site in this step? Regarding sales, your site can be useful for both consultative sales, such as RD, and for self-service sales, such as ecommerces.
If your sale is advisory, the site is a support for the seller when closing with the customer. It is essential that you have an area with the solutions and prices of your products.
If your selling is self-service, a website will help scale your business by allowing customers to make a purchase wherever and whenever they’re most comfortable. It doesn’t matter if it’s Easter holiday or it’s 4 am. The internet never closes. That is, with an online store, you don’t have to limit yourself to business hours.
Conclusion
In short, a website of your own is a key part of a results-focused Digital Marketing strategy. It is the channel that will pass all the credibility needed for your base and assist in various factors such as being found, gaining market authority, expanding the business, selling your products or relating to the audience.
If your business doesn’t have a website yet, don’t waste time and start planning now.