Coronavirus is quickly becoming an epidemic. News about it is flooding social media feeds, the stock market is starting to crash and the best advice we have right now is social isolation. People are panicking and when this happens, businesses and the economy suffer. This post is not to be insensitive to what’s going on. But an attempt to be realistic about what it means to survive in times when things aren’t going so well.
Your business needs an online presence now more than ever, whether that be through a website or web application. It needs to be found by the millions of people who are too scared to venture out. People who have the need to continue working or purchase your product or service. It is needed for video meetings, for teaching courses, and continuing your business by connecting with people while they are too scared to go outside. If you aren’t sold just yet, here are 5 reasons why you need a website for your business.
Customer Retention
If we are strictly speaking about the total isolation of most of the population, having a way for your customers and clients to still reach out to you and continue business is a must. If they can’t go to you in person they should at least be able to get to you digitally. Creating an online store for anything someone might need during a time of no travel is a great way to keep you in business and keep them loyal.
But, pandemic aside, having a website or web application allows for you to extend your reach into a customer’s day to day that’s beyond a brick and mortar. With a website, you can create a rewards system to really celebrate your most loyal customers and even start to suggest related products or services that go along with what they are already purchasing
Competitive Edge
This is especially true if you are in a niche market of business. During this modern age having a website that is mobile-optimized, UI/UX friendly, and growing organic SEO will put you a step above the rest of your competitors. Customers are far more versed in navigating an online space than ever before, in fact, 97 percent of people go online to find a local business. And even before now many people preferred the complete convenience of it. Don’t miss out on a large amount of business by not having an online store or even just a contact form to get the sales process started.
Get more customers
If you are a start-up or small-sized business, chances are that your customer base is very local. The power of word of mouth only gets you so far, a lack of web presence will really start to hurt your business. Being online means that you will be able to expand your reach beyond your own city. If properly optimized for SEO your website could start ranking for keywords that will help your company become an authority within your market, allowing you to grow from a local mom and pop shop into a national leader in your field.
Expand working hours
It doesn’t matter if you are selling products or a service, having an online space where users can at least reach out to you via a contact form is already going above the standard hours of operation. With an online store, there isn’t an open or close time, so those that are too sick to be up during normal hours of the day will be able to order from you. Maybe a client has some questions that can be answered by visiting a FAQ page? Think of your company’s website as an employee that doesn’t need to clock in or out, they are always available to help your customers in a time of need.
Add credibility
To be blunt a business without a website doesn’t seem as credible compared to competitors who are online. In a study done in 2018 30% of consumers won’t consider a business that doesn’t have a website. Think about how you find new restaurants or find a local mechanic, you google them. Being online offers an immediate image to someone who doesn’t know of your company and can help them feel at ease when they start working with you. An extra benefit of creating an online persona of your company is that you can use testimonials to really build up your brand and sell your business for you.
iNNOV8 Can Help Your Business Go Digital With A One Page Website
Now is the time to be proactive about getting this part of your business handled. It is one of the places that you can actually dedicate some time and resources to in the midst of what’s going on. This way, you can plan for the future where there isn’t a pandemic going on and will be able to even grow your business. With a website, you can offer quotes or pre-set appointments with future clients.
innov8 Place is a web solutions company that specializes in WordPress, Shopify, and Woocomerce. We can help you get started and answer any questions you may have throughout the process. Currently, we are offering a deal for 1-page sites with the ability to scale later if you are looking for a quick solution immediately.
