Small business owners might question getting a website, especially if they’re not interested in selling their products or services online. Understandably so; who wants to spend money on a website if it’s not going to be useful to them or the growth of their business? If you’re thinking that same thing, hold on. A small business website is more than just a listing of goods for people to buy from.
The truth is, a website can be an invaluable resource for you to promote your business the way you want and need it to be. You don’t need to sell anything on it either. Simply having a webpage with your information on it can help your business in many different ways.
1. Your Website Can Act as Your Information Headquarters
Some people want to know what they’re getting into before they even step foot inside your front door. A website is the perfect place for any information they may need. This could include business hours, what holidays you’re going to be closed, and where your front door actually is. You can also post up contact information such as an email address and a phone number.
That’s just the basics, though. Anything you want customers to know about your business can be posted on your webpage somewhere. You could, for instance, post a list of frequently asked questions that your customers have and answer them one-by-one, saving time for yourself and any other potential customers. You could also notify customers on any changes that you have to make regarding your business without a lot of hassle. Plus, if you have an emailing list set up, those updates could be sent right to your inbox as you post them.
2. Customers Can Interact With You Directly
While customers can leave reviews on other websites, having a website of your own allows people to talk directly with you. If you also have social networking, you can connect those networks and create a social board for your customers to post their stories, pictures, and more with you that you can share with other customers. That means that you don’t have to worry about posting something every day – the customers will help you keep your website up-to-date.
This interaction also means you can get honest reviews. You can post up questionnaires and surveys so customers can rate their experiences which you can share with the rest of the world. While all these reviews won’t be all positive, you can use the negative feedback to fix the issues that your business has and work towards something better in the future.
3. Lets You Do Your Business the Way You Want
With a website, there is no middle man. You can promote and say whatever you’d like, immediately getting your message out to the masses. If that means you want to have a straight-laced, professional feel, then you’re welcome to it. If you’d rather have an artsy, friendly approach, that’s available as well. It’s your small business website. It can say exactly what you want any time you’d like.
4. The Way You Market Can Change as Your Needs Change
Let’s say you need to market something relating to your business and what you originally try doesn’t get as many people through the door as you need. With a printed advertisement campaign, that could cost you money and time repairing and perhaps reprinting your ads to what you originally needed them to be. With a website, you won’t run into a problem like that. If your original marketing plan doesn’t pan out, you simply change what you need to on the website without any additional costs to you. This also means that if you think of a better idea later on down the road, you can just change what you need to on the website, no questions asked.
5. The Internet Never Closes
The truth is, you can’t keep your store front open 24-hours a day, seven days a week. You have to sleep sometime. Just because your location is closed for the night doesn’t mean your website has to be, though. In fact, it will stay open as long as the Internet is running correctly. The constant availability of your website ensures that your business is being promoted the way you want it to be all hours of the day, whether or not your small business is open at the time. You don’t have to rely on the words of others. Let your own typed words say what you need for your business to grow.
Having a website for your small business isn’t an idea you should pass up simply because you have nothing to sell on it. Having your information and voice out there to promote your work anytime, any day can bring more people to your business than just having your doors open. Plus, creating a gateway between you and your customers builds a strong relationship and shows that you’re willing to listen to their voice as well. Creating that online space for your small business will only help it grow.