The way people search for products and services has changed massively in the past few years. A report published last year by Interactions says that Everywhere Commerce (also known as Omnicommerce) is the key to staying competitive in today’s mobile market.
So if the Web is where your customers are looking for you, does it not make sense for you to be where all the action is?
A website is a must-have for all businesses today. A website gives you a face and a voice. A website gives you credibility and identity, and lets you connect with your potential customers residing in any part of the planet.
Here are few important reasons why you should consider having a website for your business.
It Is Cost-Effective Advertising
A website is a one-time investment and helps you connect with your customers. A website alone will not act as a marketing tool, but is the best place to showcase your products and your USPs.
A good website will help guide a visitor through your offerings and what make them unique from the rest of the similar products or services available in the market.
A website is a friend who introduces your company and products to the potential customer, or visitor. If there are achievements or statistics that you can boast of, like the ‘fastest growing SEO service provider in Tampa Bay’ or ‘winner of XYZ Award 2014’, your website can gently nudge the visitor’s attention to these statements.
GE Capital Retail Bank’s study finds that 81% of shoppers research online before heading out to a store, so you need to be visible to potential customers.
SEO Rules
As sated earlier, a website alone is not sufficient to drive traffic and notch up sales. Excellent SEO tactics and link-building efforts are exceptionally important. The best method to drive traffic is to provide good content on your website, and blogging is one way to achieve that. If you provide good and useful content, you will be able to get more quality websites to link to you, and thus rise in Google rankings.
It Endows Credibility
This is obviously the single most important reason for your business to own a website. Who will want to do business with a person whose face is shrouded in mystery and anonymity? This is exactly what a lack of online presence does to a business.
A website will help your customers reach you and access information any time of the day. It helps your customers interact with you whenever they want to.
It is important you provide them all relevant and important information possible about your product.
An effective and responsive customer service helpline details, detailed contact information, testimonials from clients, press mentions if you have any, organizational memberships and other credentials endow credibility to business websites.
You Can Be a Part of Social Action
Social share buttons on your business website will help you connect with people. Social media is an important part of online marketing efforts and it is too risky to ignore it completely.
Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Google+, Instagram and the various other niche-specific online communities like BackYard Chickens, Sitepoint, CareHubs, Socious and NextDoor offer opportunities to businesses to connect and have conversations with their consumers.
But if you are part of social networking sites it’s important you maintain the tempo and momentum of your activities. Post, comment and share relevant, useful and interesting content regularly. Interact with your friends, fans and followers, and always be prompt with your replies.
Contribute to conversations and online forums actively and build your brand value. Only if you are responsive and involved, your social media marketing aspirations will bear fruit.
Your Website Can Be Home to All-Important CTAs
Your website is a place where prospective and existing customers come looking for you. Develop and integrate quality content in your website that also have smart Calls-To-Action buttons.
If you sell handbags and have just released a fresh line, post pictures of the new products and give complete descriptions. You should also place the ‘SHOP NOW’ button next to it. State other highlights like ‘Your Bag Ships Free’ next to your CTA to make the buy more attractive to your customer.
A sneak peek into a successful competitor’s website will give you a fair idea of what you should strive for.
Conclusion
A good website is an all-powerful marketing tool provided you are consistent with your interactions and take care to infuse your personality and character into it. A website is an extension of your brand image, so be very careful of what you convey.
February 24, 2015
