Many small businesses, especially new small businesses, have a limited budget. They focus on necessities and urgent matters, and try to spend money only when they need to. So, I understand why they might think a website is a luxury item they can afford to live without. But here are a few reasons they need a website:

 

Be Where Your Consumers Are

97% of people go online to find a local business, and 93% of online experiences begin with a search engine

One of the benefits of having a website for small businesses is to be where your potential clients are. There are 3.5 billion SEO Strategy Saskatoon Web Developmentsearches on Google per day and at this very moment, there could be someone in your area online and searching for your service. Since Facebook pages are not Search ngine Optimized, you could be missing out in business if you don’t have a website.

30% of consumers won’t consider a business without a website.

Your website is your number one marketing asset because we live in a digital age. Consumers expect companies to have an online presence (including a website) and will consider a company that DOESN’T have one as less professional.

According to research by YellowPages and LSA, on average, consumers use approximately three sources before making an individual purchase decision, and 30 percent automatically strike a business from consideration if they don’t have a website.

63% of consumers primarily use a company’s website to find and engage with businesses. That could be a lot of potential customers that you are missing out on.

Your Website Is an Anchor for Your Marketing and YOU Control the Design

You are 100% in control of the brand experience with your website. A well designed website will function as POM Facebook pagean extension of your company vision, values, and services.

Yes, I agree that you can customize your Facebook business page with a background photo. But every page still looks like... a Facebook page, you can’t change the setup of the page. With so many business choices available today, potential customers want to know what makes you different from your competition. Your company website is much more helpful in telling your brand story in a clear and appealing manner.

Also if Facebook changes their guidelines, shut down, or decide that they don’t want you on their platform — they can kick you off. Your company page could be shut down with no input from you. When you have your own website, you are in control. No other brand controls your story or your platform.

You Own the Leads from Your Website

Email still provides the highest Return On Investment (ROI) for modern marketers - According to the Data and Marketing Association

Saskatoon Web Design Get leadsOnce you have someone's email address, you have the power to deliver the right marketing message at the right time.

Facebook is great for attracting fresh prospects, but it doesn't provide everything you need to complete the sales cycle. Preferably, you want to motivate your Facebook followers to your website where they can then sign up to stay in contact. This doesn’t guarantee your company’s placement in their newsfeeds, but you will be recognized within their Inboxes.To get them to give you their email addresses, you need to create an enticing lead magnet that motivates them to sign up on your website. This is why your website should act as the hub for all of your online marketing efforts. Use social media channels (like FB, or Instagram, or LinkedIn – you get the picture ?) for lead generation, but nurture those leads through your website and email newsletter. If you only have a Facebook page (and not a website), you can’t nurture these leads.

Don’t Decide If You Need Facebook or Website – HAVE BOTH!

With millions of users around the world, Facebook can help increase your website traffic.

But don’t rely on just one platform only. Use social media (your choice) to build audiences where your target customers spend their time, which could be through Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc. You can take advantage of their free promotional campaigns or pay for advertising. Then use your website to generate leads and nurture those leads into customers.

There is no substitute for the level of brand control, user personalization, and lead nurturing that you can develop through your business’ website. While solely using Facebook might work great for certain consumer-based businesses, it's a pretty ineffective strategy for Business to Businesses (B2Bs).

If your usual customer does a fair amount of research before making a decision, the best way to guide them is through a strategic content funnel on your site.

Now that you’ve read about how a website can help grow your business, do you need help developing a website?

If you need any help creating dynamic content for your Facebook page or developing your company website – let’s chat. We would love to hear from you - please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.