The 2020 holiday shopping season was an honest one for businesses online. because of strong sales from Black Friday and Cyber Monday, online retailers reported a rise in sales of 15 per cent from the previous year with Cyber Monday proving to be the most important online sales day ever, netting $3.07 billion.
However, only 51 percent of small businesses have websites, despite the very fact that 97 percent of consumers look for products and services online, consistent with figures released earlier from The SCORE Association (SCORE).
The disconnect between small companies and therefore the growing number of consumers who vet brick-and-mortar businesses supported their online presence might be keeping entrepreneurs from many customers — and dollars. SCORE vice chairman of selling Bridget Weston Pollack said, “If a corporation or a little business doesn’t have a web presence, they’re missing an enormous percentage of the population that would be shopping at their store.”
A website not only helps small businesses promote and sell their products and services, but it also allows them to differentiate themselves from their competitors, especially for patrons who rely heavily on the web to find out everything a few company. This makes an internet site one among the foremost important business assets for sharing information, building credibility and standing call at crowded marketplaces.
According to a recent Verisign report, 97 percent of U.S. small businesses with an internet site recommend other small businesses also establish an internet site .
1. FIND CUSTOMERS
Verisign found that 88 percent of U.S. small businesses with an internet site agree that it’s made it easier for patrons to seek out their business. Today, customers are constantly searching on computers, tablets and smartphones. an internet site enables them to seek out your company and study your business and what it offers at any time and anyplace.
In today’s competitive online search environment, content is vital . Google has revamped its algorithms to raised serve user searches today, including rewarding sites that provide visitors with helpful content and good user experience. this suggests that if someone is trying to find a product or service that your business offers, your website must show up within the search results otherwise you will miss out on potential sales leads.
2. BUILD CREDIBILITY
You can build a brand presence for your business on social media, but you’re restricted by the platform in terms of design, process and technology. an internet site can help small businesses increase flexibility, control, branding and credibility. Eighty-four percent of U.S. consumers believe a business with an internet site is more credible than one that only features a social media page. To be credible and attract new customers, an internet site can make a difference.
3. GET MORE CUSTOMERS
Ongoing business success oftentimes rests on your company’s ability to usher in new clients. Reaching thousands of individuals using only traditional marketing methods like spam or print advertising are often very expensive and unreliable. Getting online enables you to succeed in more people locally or outside of your region while paying less for the exposure — and you’ll even measure the precise results. In fact, 77 percent of U.S. small businesses said an internet site may be a good way to seek out new customers.
And, it’s not almost gaining new customers; you’ll use an internet site to raised serve existing customers too. the power to update business information 24/7 on the web improves customer communication while freeing up time to specialise in other business priorities. And with a branded email, you’ll begin email marketing, driving traffic back to your on- and offline sites and boosting customer loyalty together with your brand.
4. GROW YOUR BUSINESS
Many small businesses aim to expand within the market and reach bent new customers. While face-to-face interactions are often important and business often comes from word-of-mouth, an internet site gives you an opportunity to “pass your card out” to thousands online. With an e-commerce store, you’ll sell items online and ship the merchandise to customers almost anywhere within the world. you would possibly discover that customers during a neighbouring city or state have an interest in your services, resulting in a bigger topographic point , and perhaps even an expansion to regional offices. In fact, 81 percent of U.S. small businesses say that an internet site has helped to grow their business. With an internet site , you’ll reach a greater number of potential customers and opportunities.
5. GAIN COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
The recently published Verisign report shows that 93 percent of U.S. consumers use the web for research before making a sale. Consumers want to be told about their purchasing decisions — what they buy and from whom they buy. Without an internet site, you risk losing customers to businesses already taking advantage of the web marketplace. If you’re in direct competition with another business that features a website, your competitor features a clear advantage — especially if they’re effectively marketing their website. an internet site can help level the playing field.
Eighty-four per cent of U.S. small businesses surveyed by Verisign said their website is vital or critical to their business. quite half U.S.-based small businesses don’t have an internet site, so there’s no time just like the present to determine your business website and obtain before the competition.
BEFORE you begin, CHOOSE YOUR name
Before you begin building your website, you initially got to establish your address on the online. during this digital age, your site’s Web address (or domain name) is central to online activities, so take careful consideration when choosing a website name. First, ask yourself which domain extension like .com or .net, best serves your business. Second, select a reputation that’s memorable and descriptive, and isn’t trademarked by another company.
Read the new Verisign e-book, “Five Reasons Every Small Business Needs an internet site,” below to find out more and obtain a website name for your business’ website today.