We have reached a point in human history where each of us has a digital persona. A part of who you are lies on the internet in the form of social media accounts, emails, WhatsApp’s, family photos and more. A large part of our work and social lives are spent engaging with content on various online channels.
The internet has become the consumer’s primary research tool, be seen!
The moment we want information, we take out our phones and begin to Google and there is an expectation from consumers to find the information they are looking for. Consumers expect you to be online. Having a website allows you to meet customers in the online realm and to provide them with instant hassle-free information that they need to make a purchase decision. Consumers are actively searching for products and services on the internet every day. There are billions of eyes out there, but you cannot be seen if you do not exist in this online realm. Having a website increases the accessibility of your business. Customers can engage with you in a few seconds from anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day, every day. This opens up exposure to markets you never knew existed.
Having a website allows you to leverage online marketing more effectively
First impressions last
On the internet, companies are judged by their websites. If you have a beautiful website with useful information and an excellent user experience, it says a lot about your company, it makes you look credible and trustworthy. In consumer psychology, it is well known that there is a correlation between the perceived excellence of a company and the degree to which a person admires the company’s website and other brand collateral. It can give your business a cost-effective sense of professionalism. Companies with impressive websites are also perceived by people to be larger, which can reduce the perceived risk of doing business.
It can take the heat off through self-service options
In many cases, businesses are called by prospects or existing customers to ask simple questions about their products or services. This can be particularly debilitating for small business owners, as they are the ones that take the calls. If you are unable to take those calls, it immediately leaves a bad impression. Likewise, a large company can avoid hours of question answering if they have easily accessible information based on their website. A website can act as a knowledge base where sets of frequently asked questions & answers and other informative documents are available, making it easy for customers to help themselves. This serves as a cost-effective and semi-automated way to handle customer queries.
It is a cost effective source of impressions and sales
Although there is an initial development fee and a small monthly hosting fee, in the long term, websites are a very cost-effective way to get your business out there. Your cost per impression is almost unbeatable in comparison to other advertising channels; this is due to the long life of a website. Coupled with a well-developed online marketing strategy, you are very likely to generate a return on investment from your initial expenditure.
Websites are a base loyalty programs and customer retention
A website can help you sell more to existing customers and to reach new prospects. If you offer products or services for sale on your website, you give customers an opportunity to buy on their own time and leisurely. It also gives you the opportunity to provide customised offerings based on interactions with customers. Through account creation and a loyalty programme, it becomes possible to offer customers deals based on their purchase history, frequency and average order size.
