Small businesses are a lot like snowflakes. No two are exactly alike. But there is one thing that they all should have in common: an attractive and informative website.
Whether you run a bakery, offer consulting services or sell dog toys, a business website serves as your virtual front door. It introduces your work to a ready-made audience that’s already looking for exactly what you offer. The proof is in the data: 81% of shoppers today choose to research a business online before they buy a product or service.
So, if you’re wondering “Does my business need a website?,” the answer is a resounding yes. Let’s review nine reasons why every small business needs a website.
Does my business need a website? 9 reasons why it does
01. It’s easy to create
In the past, building a website was intimidating to many small business owners. Many worried that they didn’t have the technical skills needed to pull off such an undertaking. Others thought the process of creating a website would consume too much of their valuable time. Still others believed that launching and maintaining a website would be way too expensive.
But today, creating and maintaining your own website is quick, easy and affordable, thanks to the best website builders for small businesses. These platforms walk you through every step of how to make a business website. You don’t need to know how to code—in fact, you don’t need any technological knowledge at all.
Starting is simple. Wix offers more than 800 pre-built templates across all industries—eCommerce, restaurants, construction and more. Just choose one that fits your industry and style, then customize the template by adding your products or services, photos, videos, contact information and anything else you’d like to include. Even if you’re short on time or hitting a creative roadblock, Wix’s host of AI website building tools can tackle everything from descriptions and content to page layout, image creation and even your domain name.
Once you hit publish, your business website will be live for the world to see. And for added peace of mind, you get free and reliable web hosting, 24/7 security monitoring and full customer support with Wix.
02. It streamlines your operations
Sure, your website is where you’ll share information about your products or services with your customers. But did you know that modern business websites also allow you to improve your company’s organizational efficiency? This level of customization and control is only as good as your website builder, and with Wix, the secret sauce is in the plethora of flexible built-in tools that streamline every step of running a business.
Starting an online store? You’ll want to add a payment solution so shoppers can check out with their method of choice. Opening a yoga studio? Booking software will help your clients schedule time with you online, saving you hours of manual work. Looking for fully integrated email marketing, customer chat or event management systems you can run from your website dashboard? All of this and more is built in with Wix, offering a comprehensive, unique and fully customizable solution to business operations.
The Wix App Market offers more than 300 native solutions and third-party integrations to choose from. Some are free; others carry an additional cost.
03. It builds credibility
All good businesses are built on a foundation of trust. Having a website allows you to build credibility with your customers, clients and business partners, giving them confidence that they’re engaging with a professional company. You can further build higher levels of trust by including any relevant awards or accreditation on your website.
Another smart move: creating blog posts, videos or other content aimed to educate your audience. This shows customers that you care about their needs and genuinely want to help them solve their problems with your product or service. You can easily start a blog with Wix as a standalone entity or addition to your website.
04. It raises your Google-ability
Google accounts for a whopping 96.7% of all search engine traffic, and more than half of shoppers use Google to discover or find new brands. Your small business will be missing out on a significant piece of that traffic without a website.
The higher your website ranks on Google—or any other search engine—the more potential customers your business will attract. By creating a website, you can give yourself a platform for creating content that reinforces your branding and your SEO strategy. Raising your visibility online requires consistent publishing, outreach and strategic targeting, and in creating a website that you fully own, you can make sure that traffic is funneled to pages that matter most for conversion potential.
05. It delivers powerful social proof
Let’s say you operate a hair styling business. One of your clients goes to a party. Three of the party’s guests rave about her hairdo. She tells them that she used your salon, and they soon become your customers, too. That’s the power of word-of-mouth marketing. But today, it doesn’t only happen in person—it also happens online through customer reviews.
When you open a business website, you can feature reviews and testimonials prominently on your homepage, offering social proof that yours is a company people adore. Online reviews are powerful. They’re read by 93% of consumers before making a buying decision. And if you don’t have a website with online reviews, you could be losing customers: eight out of 10 consumers say they’re less likely to buy a product with zero reviews.
Social proof can take many forms beyond customer reviews. It can also include case studies, testimonials and social media posts. And if you’re wondering how to make all of those positive social media comments appear directly on your website, Wix’s built-in review tool lets you manage and reply to reviews right from your site dashboard. There are also several Wix Market apps that can help you make it happen. For inspiration, see Alaskan King Bed Company's use of real featured reviews on its website.
06. It showcases your products or services
No matter what kind of small business you operate, your website offers you an ideal platform to display your unique work.
Are you an eCommerce business owner? You can fill your website with high-end photography that displays your products in their very best light from every angle imaginable. You can also create videos that show your customers how your products will fit into their daily lifestyle.
If you’re a creative—such as a graphic designer, content creator or artist—you can use your website as a portfolio that showcases your most colorful prints, amazing designs or engaging content assets.
Offering professional services as an accountant or HR consultant? You can create a bio that describes your unique expertise and educational background. If you’re one of those people who finds it difficult to brag about themselves, learn how to write a bio you can use on your website.
07. It establishes your brand
When you first researched how to start a business, you likely didn’t just want to start a company. Instead, you wanted to build a brand. Successful brands define the “why” behind a business, connecting a company’s mission and values to the personal beliefs held by its potential customers and clients.
Research shows that having a strong brand creates powerful business results. Eighty-two percent of consumers say they buy from brands that stand for a greater mission or purpose. Another 67% say the brands they buy from make them a better person.
Your website is the best place to bring your unique brand to life and explain how you’ll make life better for your customers and clients. You can use words and visuals to create a vibrant persona that communicates your company’s values, and in owning your own website, you’ll retain full control over your branding and the user experience (unlike third-party platforms or social media). This will help you carve a distinct place within your industry and deliver value that customers trust.
08. It makes you easy to reach
The best business websites include a “Contact Us” page with the company’s email and phone number. An even better approach is to include your contact details in the header or footer so users can find them on any page of your website.
A website also gives your business a launching pad to provide exceptional customer service. You can post your hours of business and create a list of frequently asked questions that will save your customers time and effort. If you have a brick-and-mortar business and serve local customers, you can add a map to your website so people can find your physical location easily.
What’s more, you can use homepage banners to broadcast important news updates and time-sensitive discounts. You can also create landing pages that lead your customers directly to the products or services you want them to find the most.
09. It helps define your value proposition
Your website is the perfect place for you to explain your company’s unique value proposition. In other words, why should customers choose you over your competitors? What problem do you solve for them? By using your website to educate your customers, you’ll set the foundation to build long-term relationships that will help your business grow.
If you’re a handyperson, a property manager or run another service-related business, your website gives you a forum to show potential clients what they can expect. Start by explaining the challenge that your target audience is facing (“You just bought a fixer-upper, but you’re not handy,” or “You have multiple rental units and are stretched thin trying to manage them”). Then, explain how your services will meet their needs and why your company is the right one for them.