Our world is constantly evolving. Just think, what if you had said you didn’t plug in your phone, listen to the radio or watch TV? In fact, by not having a website, you are saying no to leaps and bounds on this scale.
And last but not least, to profits, because you are losing a lot of potential customers. Let’s not be hypocritical: the world revolves around money, and in order to make a living from your business, you have to do everything you can.
That’s why in this article, we’ve put together a list of the disadvantages that your company or business faces if you don’t have a website.
1. Less chance of your brand being recognised
The internet is like a big digital billboard. There is a paid version (such as Google Ads) and there is a free advertising option (if you optimise your site for search engines).
But sooner or later, the ads will come off the bulletin board – but not off the internet. Think of the platform as a permanent, 0-24 ad that your customers can find even when you’re sleeping or on holiday.
And the more people who see it (as with a TV ad), the more likely they are to buy from you and use your services. They’ll get to know your brand much more easily and effectively than if you’re just offline.
And to be honest, a simple social media page (like a Facebook page) can’t compete with a ready-made website. (Although it can be a good complement to it.)
2. It’s much harder to get new customers
Whether you have a large or small business, never say no to new customers. The more you have, the greater your profits and growth potential.
As an offline business, you’ve probably faced the problem of how difficult it is to attract new customers. At the moment, your website is one of the most effective marketing tools you have to do this.
And how?
Tell visitors about the benefits of your product or service. You may have a completely unique product: one that your competitors don’t have. Or you may be offering the same service at a much lower price than your competitor.
But all this advantage melts away completely if your customers don’t know about it.
Share with them why they should choose you over your competitors.
Never misrepresent or highlight marketing advantages that don’t exist, as you will lose credibility in the market.
Inform your prospective customers and build trust little by little. It’s a long way and it’s hard work, but believe me: it will pay off in lots of extra profits later.
3. You will have fewer returning customers
Returning customers are statistically proven to generate many more sales than first-time customers. As a new customer, people always test whether the product or service meets their expectations by placing small orders first.
And if they are satisfied, they will buy again. But they are much more confident, more focused and buy more because they know what to expect.
And that’s where the aforementioned transparency comes in.
If you are untruthful and the product or service is not as you described it, the next time they will avoid your website by a long shot. And if they are satisfied, they will “never change the beaten track for the beaten track”: so they will not buy elsewhere and take their chances, but will play it safe.
You can boost this with extra promotions, personalised newsletters and loyalty coupons, in addition to high quality services or products. That way, your visitors will really feel important to you and that you care about them.
Another important thing about your website is that you allow customer reviews.
Other customers are much more likely to believe other customers than they are to believe descriptions. And negative reviews are also important (if they are constructive), as they help you to keep improving.
4. Inform your prospective customers and clients about new products and services – and promotions
Promotions are all about getting more people to buy from you. And in today’s modern world, one of the best places to do that (besides your social media pages) is on your website.
The more unique your product descriptions, the more detail you provide about your services, the more likely you are to rank higher on Google. And being on the first page of search is half the battle, as visitors are 90% more likely to buy from you than if you’d been relegated to the second page.
You can also reach hundreds, if not thousands, of potential users through Google’s Display network or YouTube ads. And if only 2% of 1000 people buy, and regularly, that’s an extra 20 customers per period.
5. You are less likely to have foreign customers
The internet is global, a network that spans the entire world. You can set up a multilingual website if you think your product or service could be of interest internationally. This opens up new doors and can really boost your traffic.
With the Internet, you can promote your brand without barriers, regardless of time zones or geographical areas. And for the return on investment, you don’t have to invest as much as you think… but more on that later.
6. Digital marketing is the present and the future
You might say that you’re running away with a website or digital marketing application… but that’s not true. Many companies and businesses already have websites, and those who are missing out are being left behind.
The time for traditional (and expensive) marketing is coming to an end. Advertising in newspapers, television or any print media is now too expensive, especially for small businesses.
For one thing, it is much less likely to pay back the investment. In addition, you cannot monitor the effectiveness of campaigns and they simply cannot be optimised and improved.
In contrast, digital marketing is measurable, reportable and you can learn a lot (yes, even from a failed campaign). Numbers and statistics show you where you went wrong, so you are much less likely to make the same mistake again.
Plus, analytics give you a much more comprehensive picture of who your target audience is and how to communicate with them.
7. Your competitor already has a website. And you?
Have no illusions: your competitors probably already have a website and you are at a disadvantage. (If not, great; you’ll have a significant advantage.)
Of course there is no disadvantage that cannot be overcome, but the first step is to create a website.
We realised during a market research how difficult it is for a small business to get a website up and running.
That’s why we wanted a solution that would make the process easier, shorter and cheaper.
Contact us and request a personalised quote for an introductory website or even an online store.