Happy late 4th of July! I hope each and every one of you had a great time celebrating our country freedom and the people who gave their lives for it. Now it’s back to work! I know I needed the long weekend break and now I’m ready to pull a short week and get work done!
This month I’m celebrating something! It’s the month that I signed up for AllProWebTools to set up my website! Because I’m celebrating my one year anniversary with my website host, I want to talk to you about how you can have a July Julibee with your own website by talking all about website in my blogs this month!
I read a staggering statistic that only 53% of business owners have a website. That means 47% DO NOT have a website for their business!
You know what the number one reason for not having a website was for small businesses? “Business does not need one.”
Say whaaaa?
The second reason why a business didn’t have a website was the cost. I don’t know about you, but my website cost less than $15/month. I know some people who pay even less than that! And some people say that they don’t have a website because of the cost?
If you are one of the 47% of business owners who say that you don’t need a website or the cost is too much, then I hope to persuade you to look into why having a website can benefit you and your business BIG TIME. The world is changing and the way we use the internet is also changing, so it’s time to let go of this stigma of “I don’t need a website” and start looking at WHY you need a website and how that can elevate your business (because if you don’t have one, you’re literally throwing money away and letting your competition take it). Justaddcontent.com says, “This is how businesses die: they don’t see the need to change until it’s too late.” Don’t be part of the stastic of having a failing business because you refuse to change your way of business because you are not technology savvy or your business is made up of mostly referrals and word of mouth (which is crucial, but what happens when that stops? The new way of marketing isn’t the way it was even 5 years ago!).
So let’s jump right on into the Top 5 Reasons Your Business Needs a Website (like TODAY!)!
Reason 1: Your business looks serious.
When you have spent the time and money setting up a website to explain what you do and how you do it, then it will make you look like your business is serious. In my newsletter, I mentioned that Millennial (ages 18-34) are the biggest spenders in American history to date. And we are surpassing the baby boomers now – oh and did I mention that we are 5 years ahead of the game? So why am I saying this? If my generation is the biggest spenders in America today, and we are developing a whole new way of marketing and selling through the use of the internet, then what do you think we say to ourselves when you say, “My business doesn’t need a website”? We are going to be thinking that you’re not that serious and the chances of us buying from you goes to zilch. We’re going to go to someone else that has a website, looks more serious about their business, and who appears more up to date with technology.
I know you may be saying, “Monica, I’m not technology savvy.” There are plenty of experts out there who are willing to make a website for you just the way you want it! Yes, it cost money, but instead of looking at your website as an expense, look at it as an investment. You’re investing into your business to make it look and appear as professional, serious and set apart from your competition as you can. Unless you enjoy giving your competition money, then don’t get a website.
Reason 2: You reach more people (aka potential customers).
There are 3.4 billion users on the internet right now and 90% of these users are purchased something online in the last 12 months. If you don’t have a website and are doing the slow game of face-to-face marketing, then you’re losing out on a whole new type of potential buyers when you neglect setting up a website! You can only be in so many places at once; a website allows you to be all over the place at one time, cutting your time to be everywhere all at once to nothing!
Reason 3: You build Credibility.
Just like in Reason 1, you may be loosing customers if you don’t have a website. It also shows that you’re committed to your business in a different way. I believe it also shows that you’re interested in your customers and are ready to showcase to your potential customers who you are in a nutshell to help them make a connection with you so they will contact you. When your business looks credible, you’re speaking your customer’s language, and you’re helping them understand your process and business values, then that will give them a lasting impression that sometimes face-to-face marketing does not.
Reason 4: It gives you a space to show off.
This alone should sell you on getting a website right away! So if you’re talking to someone and they want to work with you, but want to know the success rate your clients are having, how are you going to show that off? You can’t tell them everything your clients are gaining from memory, can you? What if you have a brain fart and think, “I have a great example of how my client succeeded past his goals, but I can’t remember how!” Telling a potential client, “I’ll email you my testimonials” doesn’t sound attractive. It actually sounds like you’re old. Don’t do that, save yourself some embarrassment!
The beautiful aspect about having a website is that you can show off what your clients are saying through a testimonial page. You don’t ever have to say the embarrassing words, “Let me email you what my clients are saying” (and potentially loose a sale), when you can pull out your smart phone, hop on your website, go to your testimonial page, and show the potential client on the spot! No need for memorizing and no need to wait for the sale!
Also, a website allows you the opportunity to show off your genius! It gives you an opportunity to say how you work, your business values, and your process (along with a happy testimonial page from past clients), it will make you and your business look like the expert in your field. It quickens the relationship and the trust that would have taken months for you to build face-to-face.
Reason 5: Build Relationships (Yes, it can happen over the internet!).
Thought you couldn’t build relationships online, could you? Well you can! And this way is so much easier because you can talk to literally thousands of people at once! You can ask people to get onto your monthly newsletter for special updates, events, discounts, freebies or to show off your expertise by giving valuable and helpful information! This helps people remember you and your business because a newsletter goes directly into their inbox and who doesn’t check their email regularly? This is a great way to help people remember your business and when you provide helpful information that is solving your client’s needs, then you’ll be place on the top of their minds and they will look forward to reading your newsletter more often!
Also, this is where blogging comes into play as well! I encourage you to read my own blog about why you need to begin blogging for your business. It’s one other way to begin using blogs as a way to show off your expertise and build a relationship with your customer by providing helpful information.
In Conclusion…
I want to conclude this by asking yourself, “What am I missing out on by not having a website?” and “How am I loosing potential sales?” I guarantee that you are loosing money because you don’t have a website. I can also guarantee that you’re not showing off the BEST part of you in person all the time. I hope that you will seriously consider that 46% of the world population is on the internet today and even a small percentage of those people are looking for someone like you and you’re withholding yourself from them. Not only is that rude, but it’s a disservice to you and your business.
I also want to encourage you that if you are wanting a website, but don’t want to do it yourself, then find a person who LOVES designing and making websites for you! I know people who would LOVE to chat with you and see if your needs matches their services. Yes, it does cost, but remember, you’re investing in yourself and your business. Once your website is up and running, the cost will be worth it. I promise.
Please leave me a comment below if you’re in the market for a website designer or if you have more questions on why you need a website. I would be happy to answer your questions! Also, I want to announce that I will be co-hosting a webinar all about websites and the content you need on it on August 2 with Cooper Leigh Creative! I am SO excited and next week, I’ll have even MORE information about it!
Join me next week as I will talk about what should be on your Home page for your website. I’ll see you next Monday!
