Nobody thinks that running a business is easy. If they do, they’re either doing something very right or very wrong. But it is easy to get stuck in a bit of a rut when running your business, especially if you’ve been doing it for years and just plodding along.
In recent years, running a business has become a different game, and business owners have been forced to adapt. While we’re all probably sick of hearing about the COVID-19 pandemic by now, something that’s approaching four years in the past, we can’t deny that the effects are still impacting us today, and will probably continue to impact us for years to come.
How does this apply to businesses, and why does it matter now?
Consumers are very different now than they were four years ago. In 2020, most businesses were forced to close down or pause. Many businesses didn’t open again, and the ones that did had to cater to customers who were less willing to go outside and spend time shopping.
While everything has opened up again and businesses are recovering, customers have gotten more comfortable with doing things online. Which is where we enter the present-day and business websites.
Why You Need a Business Website
Once upon a time, business websites were strictly optional. Some businesses and stores needed to operate online, and some large companies and corporations also had websites. But now it’s more common for even small, local businesses to have an online presence.
Simply put, it’s good business to put your company where the people are. Nowadays, people are online. This is why social media is so popular for customers and businesses alike because it allows people to connect with each other. When it comes to marketing, this connection is golden.
If you operate your business from home and deal with customers around the world, delivering products and services online, a business website is a no-brainer. It’s the only real way for you to connect with customers and sell your products. It’s the online equivalent of a brick-and-mortar shop.
But what about a small, local business?
Even if you can only cater to local customers, it’s still a good idea to set up a basic website. Why? Well, people want to know who they’re doing business with. The vast majority of people, when they want information about a product or service, will go to a search engine online and look for it there. If they want a local business, they check an online map like Google Maps.
It’s important to be visible to these people, which means making yourself visible online. The first step is to register your business on Google and make it visible on Google Maps or other map services. You should include your address and contact information, so people can easily get in touch.
Secondly, it’s a good idea to create your website and add it there. This way, people can learn exactly what you offer and have an easy and convenient way to get in touch with you. It’s a method of communication and learning that more people are comfortable with.
What You Need From Your Website
Not all business websites are created equal. This isn’t a bad thing. Your first task is to identify what you need from your website.
Let’s say that you are running a small, local business that only provides an in-person service, like babysitting a hairdressing. Do you need a fully loaded eCommerce website with every kind of functionality available?
In short, no. Developing a website can be difficult and, if you hire an expert, expensive. So you might as well focus on what you need.
If all you need is a landing page, a short portfolio, and a way to get in touch with your business, then that’s all your website should be. You can include some other things, like a blog that might attract people to your website. Or, if you sell products as well as provide a service, it might be nice to include eCommerce capabilities, but this all depends on your website and getting the maximum value out of it.
Even better, a simpler website is easier to design by yourself, so you can use a template or a relatively basic hosting service.
On the other hand, you may need a more robust and comprehensive website. In this case, it’s often a good idea to shop around for skilled and experienced eCommerce developers who can help you to realise your website dreams.
Form and Function
Have you ever been on a business website that was slow and unresponsive? Or maybe it was unattractive and hard to navigate? When you tried to check out the blog, you might have found that it hadn’t been updated for months or even years, and the content on there was boring to read or barely related to the business. Maybe it seemed fine, but when you tried to buy something, the checkout system was so irritating that you lost interest.
This all forms a picture of a bad website that is at best, useless, and at worst, detrimental to the business. You might think that the business is unprofessional and, if they can’t get their website right, how can you trust their product or service?
Ideally, you don’t want your website to give this impression to your customers. This is why it’s not just important to have a business website full-stop, but it’s important to have a good business website that’s well designed.
Regularly check on your website statistics and see if there are any issues. For example, an abundance of abandoned shopping carts on an eCommerce website suggests that your checkout system is flawed. If people only visit your website for a few seconds, they might not be able to quickly and easily find what they’re looking for. If you have a blog, does it get a lot of engagement?
Always update your website and look after it, and it will look after your business in turn.
