Small business websites: why they're so important to local business

Cutting to the chase: every small business should have its own website. Whether you're a local trade service, a town-based jewellery shop, a freelance hairdresser, accounting company or you're selling handmade bracelets, locally; the small business website is an essential for those who want to reduce their task list and increase sales opportunities (and revenue).

In short: every business needs an active and robust online presence.

Why do I say ‘online presence’ and not ‘website’? Because having a website without an online presence is possible, but it's like having a painting in a cupboard, a car stored in a garage…a beautiful slice of coffee cake in the tin. The ‘website’ is just one tool or asset that enables an ‘online presence’, but there are other factors that achieves the result you're looking for: more leads and more revenue.

If your website is not helping you achieve these two benefits, you're missing a trick:

1) automating workflows so you do less work, and

2) increasing your revenue through extra leads and easier sales,

What is the intended result of a small business website?

Small businesses need a digital solution that reflects their brand visually but also empowers their operations. Here are some ways a great website can empower a small business operation:

• Offer all service/product information to close a sale - decreases workload with automated sales
• Enable fast, frictionless purchase or booking to take advantage of impulse - increases sales and revenue
• Upsell additional services/products to increase revenue - creates new sales and increases revenue
• Offers FAQ sections or dedicated support pages/customer blog - decreases customer service time commitment
• Captures leads for sales follow up - increases sales opportunities
• Attracts traffic with content - increases business authority in the field and increases brand awareness

Too many business owners think of their website as just a digital business card when, in fact, you should regard it as your most dedicated and functional employee and most versatile tool.

I'd like you to think about crafting your online presence and systems, so that they work for your business.

A Personalised Approach to Your Digital Success

If you were to choose myself and my team for 'done-for-you' services, our goal is not simply to build you a small business website that looks pretty; it is to provide you with a solution to your need for an effective online presence.

Part of that solution is considering the daily running and effective use of your website; your business is unique, with its own intricacies, goals, values and processes which need to be incorporated into the design of both your website and the marketing strategy it enables.

Comprehensive Solutions for Your Digital Journey

As I’ve mentioned, creating an impactful online presence involves more than just aesthetics, which is what most new clients come to me for, but I don't just want to make pretty websites: I want to make useful websites and create digital strategies around them. It’s important that every page on your website has a function and an intended outcome.

For example, a page that offers information about a service you provide is merely an informative dead end until you add a Call To Action. Once your potential customer has read about your service, what action would you like them to take?

Obviously, you’d like them to get in touch for more information or -even better- commit to a booking straight away. This is where an intentional examination of your likely customer’s processes and mindset should inform the structure of the page and the response requested of them. Going past the aesthetic design, the architecture of the information is how we guide potential customers towards a click to call or ‘get in touch’ form.

We'll ensure that your website is not merely an online placeholder but a powerful tool that serves your business needs efficiently.

Hosting and Ongoing Support for Long-Term Success

As you may be realising, launching a website is just the beginning of your digital journey. When used correctly, your website is the first contact point between your business and a potential customer; it’s your marketing machine and and top sales team. As the hub of your strategy, it’s requires regular updating of content .

But, just as a car that requires daily driving needs a service and maintenance routine, so does your website; and that’s not something you want to busy yourself with while running your business.

With various plans available, my service includes reliable hosting to ensure your website is always online, providing a seamless experience for your visitors. Beyond that, I offer ongoing support to troubleshoot issues, implement updates, and keep your digital presence optimised for evolving trends. To use the car analogy again…we can be your chauffeur and mechanic to keep things 'tip-top'!

Going ‘POW’ on the Internet for Business Growth and Profits

Every business needs to be online. Footfall has diminished, due to costs of travel and parking...and simply because of a change in culture. Where are your potential customers? On the sofa. Waiting for a bus. On the loo.

Our web design and digital strategy service is meticulously designed to make your business go ‘POW’ on the internet.

From a compelling brand concept to a visually stunning website and, even further, to a powerful online strategy, we’ll ensure that your online presence not only captivates and converts but directly contributes to your business growth and profits.

It’s not just about creating a website but crafting a digital powerhouse that propels your business forward.

Conclusion: You Need More than a Small Business Website

Whether or not your business has a physical shop front, the first interaction a potential customer has with a business -these days- is in the digital space; your business needs to reflect your brand, present your service or product and assist your customers in the way they expect. If you don't feel your website lives up to these expectations, we'd love to have a conversation with you.

It may be that your old website simply needs a redesign , which is a much more affordable option that still prepares you for digital growth.

Or, perhaps you're ready to explore all the ways a website and digital strategy can reduce your workload and increase your revenue?

If so...get in touch for a conversation on this.