ONE. Digital

The internet has caused a total shift in the way many Americans shop and search for the information they need. According to Statista, consumers spent more than $289 billion in online sales during 2012. In addition, Envesp has claimed that more than 80 percent of the people who use the internet have made at least one online purchase in their lifetime. With this much consumer power, it is vital for any size business to have an online presence to stay competitive within its industry. Maintaining a good web design is one of the best ways to promote a business online.

Tell Customer Who and Where You Are

Having an active website is important even for small, local businesses. According to a study done by Nielsen, 85 percent of consumers use the internet to find a local business. Without a business web design, these customers may not even be able to contact or locate the business.  Search engines such as Google are heavily focusing on local results, so a website is even more important if you are a local business.

Reach All Corners of the World

A professional business web design gives you an instant global presence and allows your business to capture customers from around the world. This has the potential to greatly increase your customer base.  If you can service customers nationally or globally, a website that reflects that is a must for prospects that are researching your business.

Around-the-Clock Access

With the help of the internet, consumers can now literally shop online around-the-clock. The only way businesses can reach all of their potential customers is to have a good business web design  that will allow them to shop or research the company any hour of the day. In an example such as ours, we usually receive 1 to 2 leads overnight while we are all sleeping.  That would not be possible without a website.

Instant Communication

Once a business has its website, it gives them the ability to communicate with their customers instantly. Upcoming sales and new products can be instantly advertised on the business website. This can eliminate the need to send out costly mailings and flyers.  Another important factor is content and the integration of social media.  As you generate content that may help a prospect, you can use social media to instantly propagate that content across thousands of potential customers.

Cost Savings

A business website can cost very little maintain. When compared to other advertising techniques, it is fairly inexpensive. Considering the power of a business website, the return-on-investment is higher than other advertising channels in most cases.  A website should be a sales tool, explaining products and services and generating leads from that information.  If you compare this to a salary of a person and the cost of sales collateral, it is a fraction of he cost.

Attract New Customers

One of the top reasons for a professional web design is the potential to attract new customers. As consumers surf the internet, they will have access to the businesses products, services or information, where otherwise they may not have even known the business existed.  You may find prospects in multiple stages of the sales process, meaning you may find researchers, comparers or purchasers.  Make sure to have an offer for all of them.

Improved Customer Service

Usually a business web design will include a contact us section that gives your customers instant access to ask a question, or notify you about a problem with your goods or services. This gives you the ability to provide instant feedback to the customer and improve your customer service satisfaction rate.  There are many creative ways you can improve a customers experience including a simple contact form so they may contact you with questions, a blog or forum they can leave questions in or even a live chat for immediate satisfaction.  There are many live chat programs that are simple to install.

Know Your Customers

Businesses will have the ability to track who is viewing its site and who is making purchases. The data collected can provide valuable information to the business that will allow them to better target their current and potential customers.  Tracking software is becoming very intelligent.  At minimum, install Google Analytics which is completely free.

Customer Convenience

Today’s consumers like their shopping experience to be quick and easy, which is why more and more consumers are turning to online shopping. Maintaining a business website will offer a more convenient way to shop for your customers.  When is the last time you’ve ordered something by mail?  Most reading this post might not even remember the mail order era, it was painful.  Today, commerce and information is immediate.

Low Maintenance

Once a business website is initially set up, it requires very little maintenance to maintain on a day-to-day basis. This makes it an easy way to advertise without taking too much time away from the daily operations of the business. This doesn’t mean you can neglect your website, a content strategy should be in place so that you are providing regular and consistent updates to your website so it doesn’t become stale.

It is easy to see why it is so important for every company to have a business website. Without a website, it will be difficult to remain competitive in today’s market and generate more customers. Business websites are also easy to setup and maintain. If you don’t have a website, leave us a comment and tell us how you are doing business.