If your business doesn’t have a website yet you’re missing out on one of the easiest low-cost, dependable ways to find new clients and customers. And it may be time to for you to get one.
Some of you early adapters might be thinking, “Who doesn’t have a website these days?” but you might be floored to find out that according to a survey by research firm Clutch 46% of small businesses in the United States do not have a website! Can you believe that? That means that almost 1 out of every 2 businesses are not using the internet to promote and improve their business.
Crazy, right? So, I ask you. Do you have a website yet? If not, why not? Here are some of the reasons I hear regularly from people about why they don’t have a website for themselves, their business, or their non-profit.
Reason #1: It’s Too Expensive
Fair enough. I can certainly understand the concern to keep finances at a minimum or the way life can drain your budget leaving no extra for business enhancements.
However, it is amazingly easy to set up a website for free or with minimal cost. You can set up a totally free website with sites like WordPress.com, Wix.com, Weebly.com, or any number of other platforms. Just do a search for ‘Free websites’ and you will get a huge list of websites where this can be done in minutes.
Now with these free websites, you won’t get the ability to have a custom URL or website address like www.yourwebsite.com. You will be given a URL that most likely will look like www.yourwebsite.wordpress.com and there’s nothing wrong with that. When faced with the choice of no website at all or one with a free URL like this, take the free URL. You can always upgrade later when finances get better for you.
Now if you do want your own custom URL the cost is amazingly affordable and most of these free website platforms give you the option to buy a domain name for under $20 a year and have the free URL redirected to your custom domain name. It’s incredibly easy to do and affordable for most people.
Reason #2: I Don’t Know How To Build A Website/I Am Not Tech Savvy
Have no fear! Every one of these free website platforms are incredibly easy to get up and running with your new website. Most will walk you through the process and many have video tutorials and articles that will walk you through every step of the way. Sites like WordPress.com have email and online chats that can help you out as well.
Also, most of these sites have premade website themes that you choose from and then drag and drop your content into, making it extremely easy to have your basic website up and running in a few hours at most. If this still feels daunting to you, find someone who can work with you to create your website so you don’t have to go it alone.
If you decide that you want a more expensive, more complicated website built there is no end to the number of freelancers and companies that provide website design services. Just make sure you shop around to find one that will give you an estimate of the costs and a timeline to completion before they begin the work for you.
Reason #3: My Business Is Not Big Enough To Have A Website
Well, I hate to tell you this but the cold, hard truth is that your business will never be big enough if you continue to run it without a website. From a personal point of view, I have been known not to visit a business if I can’t find their website. I know it might sound like I am being a jerk but to me, if a business doesn’t have a website, I wonder how juiced they really are about their products or services. It’s a really bad business decision not to have at least a simple website with the most basic information for the prospective customer to review.
By not having a website you are literally turning customers or clients away and throwing money out the door. If people don’t know about you or your business, they won’t buy from you and that, my friend, is how business failure is born.
So, now that I’ve addressed the top three objections when it comes to building a website, let’s go over the basics that every website MUST have.
Basic #1: 1-4 Pages
If you are just looking to place you or your businesses flag in the online ground, your website only need between 1-4 pages depending on the industry you’re in.
At the least your website should have an About page, a Contact Us page, a Products or Services page, and possibly a Blog page.
Basic #2: About Page
The About page should be exactly that – a page that gives the potential client or customer to your site information about who you are and what you do. It should include vital information like the business name, physical address and map (if you’re a brick and mortar kind of business), telephone number, email address and business hours (if applicable).
Basic #3: Contact Us Page
The Contact Us page should contain a contact form that visitors to your site can use to contact you via email. The form should ask them for their name, email address, phone number, website (if applicable), and reason for contacting you. This contact form should send these messages right to your business email address so that you can respond to them ASAP.
Basic #4: Products or Services Page
The Products or Services page should outline at least your basic or most popular services telling them what they are with a brief description. If you are an online business, it should allow them to order from the site with an online order form or directions on how to order from you.
Basic #5: Blog Page
And last but not least is the Blog page. Not every business needs a blog but I feel that every business could definitely benefit from one. Blogs help to create a consistent stream of contact with your current and future clients or customers and provides a way for you to share with them your businesses, services, and behind the scenes information and events. It helps to create a community behind your brand and is a way for your business to reach people you might not otherwise be able to.
It is my hope that with all this information in your head, you will have decided that 2020 is indeed the year that you finally give yourself or your business the gift of its very own website. There is no reason for any business to be without one in this day and age. Not having a website for yourself or your business is hurting you and your finances. Once you have a website (even a simple one) in place, you can begin your voyage towards building a following and attracting new customers or clients. So, what are you waiting for? Get to it!
Do you have a website yet? If not, why not? Tell me what is keeping you from taking this step towards entering the online business world in the comments below. I would also love to hear about your victories after finally creating a website in the comments below.
