A lot of small businesses don't have websites, but does that matter? Today, we live in a digital world and having a place for customers to interact with you in this space is life or death. This digital world accounts for more reach than any other medium out there. Within this virtual world, a website acts as the one central place where your brand lives, all that you put into the craft that you love sits here. Social media, email, blogs, etc. are all an arm of this centralized command, each moving in a semi-autonomous pattern but still centrally attached to your vision.
So far in 2019, the average US adult spends an average 2 hours and 55 minutes on their smartphones and this number is only going up (eMarketer, 2019). My point is not to dig into the numbers of desktop vs. mobile or which medium is better, that will come later. My point is that we are online, period. Think of it this way, when is the last time you noticed a billboard? It is sad but true, our eyes are increasingly on our phones and not where we traditionally marketed before.
Think of it this way, when is the last time you noticed a billboard?
What does that mean for you? As a small business owner, it is increasingly important and urgent that you have a place for customers to legitimize choosing you over the competition. It comes down to that, if I cannot find you online I assume the services are not of par to another similar business across town. Now, I may be alone in that matter, but what if I am not? As consumers, we are looking for research to help us make smarter purchasing decision. The eCommerce foundation estimates that 88% of consumers will research a product before they make a purchase.
No website = no research (on you) = no sales (for you).
Last point to drive this home. Imagine walking down the street and seeing 2 businesses side-by-side. One of these businesses has large bay windows with elaborate displays of a product that catches your eye. The second business, has no windows and just a front door. While this second business may (or may not) have the same product, where do you think you go? The first store, of course. We shop with our eyes and this goes for the digital space as well.
Comments