At Rebus Creative, our business is designing and developing websites for our clients. So, we are always a bit taken aback when they ask, ”Why do I need a website for my business?”

So, in this month’s blog, we thought that we would outline the main reasons why every business needs a website, no matter how large or small!

Why do I need a website for my business?

Although websites vary in design and functionality according to the nature of the business, there are things a website needs to do:

Q: Why do I need a website for my business?

A: To establish an online presence through a website in order to provide:

• The first point of contact between your brand and customers.
• Establishes brand identity through its design elements and messaging.
• Engages with an audience through its content, i.e. values, mission.
• Interaction with customers is key to them buying into a brand. Tools such as contact forms and chatbots invite direct contact. Fresh content, e.g., vlogs, blogs, videos, lead magnets and infographics help to retain customers’ interest.
• Customer reviews help to build trust. Companies gather feedback and address customer queries, enhancing the brand experience, leading to greater customer satisfaction.
• Why do I need a website for my business? Websites provide information for customers without them having to contact anyone directly, e.g. Information about products/services, company history, news and other information, such a contact points, case studies and blogs. Customers need access to information so they can make informed decisions about products/services.
• Every business needs new customers to survive,  and visibility through search engines such as Google is vital for companies to be seen. Publishing fresh content regularly, incorporating organic and technical SEO will raise ranking, drive organic traffic to the website and increase brand presence.
• A professional, secure, fast-loading, mobile friendly, multi-functional, easy to navigate, great-looking website raises brands above competitor noise.
• Analytical tools help companies to build a picture of their customers, measure the effectiveness of marketing campaigns and gain insights into customer preferences. The accumulated data helps to refine branding and messaging to build strong relationships with customers.
• Websites are not confined by geographical boundaries or opening times, like business premises. Customers can access products/services 24/7 from anywhere in the world, leading to new opportunities and business growth.

In answer to the question, ”Why do I need a website for my business?”, they help to establish the credentials of a business and build its credibility with a target audience by creating a strong first impression, creating the foundation for a meaningful relationship. They offer essential information to prospective customers while providing companies with insights about visitor and buying behaviour.

A website is a shop window for your business

When explaining to clients why they need a website for their business, we encourage them to think of their website like a virtual shop window. Just like a shop window in real life, a website attracts customers online by:

• Showcasing the company’s products/services via great imagery, detailed descriptions, promotional offers and customer reviews/case studies.
• Representing a brand through the design, logo, colours, typography and tone of voice for consistency.
• Foster interaction and interest to encourage customers to stay on the website for longer.

What is SEO and ranking?

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is all about improving the ranking of a website, so when customers type a search into the box, your website will appear in the results. The higher up the search your website appears, the more customers it will attract.

Key to SEO:

Key words. These help search engines to understand website content, so maximising relevant keywords throughout content, meta descriptions, titles and image tags is vital. Keywords can include geographical or local places for companies wanting to attract more business in their locality.

Content. Regular updates and uploading of fresh content not only attracts customers, it keeps the interest of search engines too!

Links. Links from other websites (called backlinks), help to establish credibility. Links to other websites and cross-page links to other products/services, blogs and contact pages help to boost ranking.

Technical SEO. Secure connections, fast page loading and mobile/tablet usability are vital to search engines finding websites and ranking them.

Easy to navigate/User friendly

The user experience is critical for helping visitors to stay on the website longer so they can be converted into buying customers. Therefore, websites should be:

Intuitive. With clear menus and easy navigation paths to help customers find what they need without frustration.

Responsive. Look good and function well on every device.

Load quickly. Visitors find slow websites frustrating, so coding has to be efficient with images optimised for web viewing.

CTAs. Calls to action (CTAs), such as buttons to ‘learn more’, ‘buy now’, ‘book here’, ‘download this’, ‘email us’ etc., should be prominent and inviting.

E-Commerce

As well as being a shop window, a website can also be an online shop! To encourage online purchases, websites require e-commerce functionality:

• Product catalogue
• Secure payment system
• Shopping basket and quick checkout function
• Customer account function with order tracking, wish lists, quick checkouts etc.

Why do I need a website for my business?

A website provides a line of communication to a target audience. It is a dynamic platform for branding, engaging customers and increasing sales. Websites can contribute to company growth by providing a shop window, a straightforward way of buying products/services and enhancing the customer experience. Companies can harvest data to measure campaign success, improve their brand strategy and foster strong relationships with customers.

At Rebus Creative, we know the answer when clients ask, “Why do I need a website for my business?” We understand that a website can be your greatest marketing investment, so it has to be:

• Consistent with business strategy and business goals to promote growth
• Provide consistency for brand and messaging to avoid confusion
• Attract customers by looking amazing and differentiating you from competitors
• Provide functionality and be easy for customers to navigate to find what they are looking for without frustration
• Clearly represent your company’s mission, values and what you do

Does your company need a new website design? A new website is an investment into your company’s future growth and prosperity. If you feel the time is right, but are struggling with marketing budget, take a look at last month’s blog called ‘Grants for South Yorkshire SMEs’. We explained the Business Productivity and Digitisation Grant Scheme, and how South Yorkshire-based manufacturing, engineering, and environmental businesses, can claim a grant to help fund a digital project, such as the creation and development of a website.

In this blog we have outlined the important part websites play in attracting and engaging new customers, and creating a long-lasting relationship so you can become their brand of choice.

If you still need to ask the question, “Why do I need a website for my business?”  contact Rebus Creative today to discuss how our team of strategic marketers, website designers/developers, content writers and SEO specialists can create a website to ensure the ongoing success of your company.