[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Do you view your website as an asset to your business?
It can be difficult to put a value on a website beyond whatever the cost to build it was. You have that number in your head and don’t see any value beyond what you originally invested.
But is that the only value in a website? When you’re a small business, a website can be the way your business stands out in a sea of competitors. It can be a driving force for sales and brand image, and those are priceless.
So let’s rethink value, and look into what a website is worth for your business.
Valuing professionalism
Trust is an integral part of the buying process. No one is going to work with a business or buy their product if they don’t trust them.
You might think your first contact with a potential customer happens when you first talk to them via phone or email. But that’s not often the case.
A first impression with your business often comes before you ever speak to a prospect. People rely heavily on search engines to research companies before they ever make contact with them directly.
A potential customer will have looked for you through your website and social media before ever reaching out to make contact.
When multiple businesses are all offering the same services and all you have to go on is the first online web impression, who do you think would get the sale?
Would a business with a user-friendly, professional looking site be chosen over another business with a website that’s seven years old with no updates?
If you have a poorly designed website that doesn’t leave a great impression, you could lose a sale with someone who you never knew was interested in your business.
Your website is your face to the internet and any interested buyers; don’t overlook the value a first impression and a good website can make.
Valuing your leads
A common mistake many small businesses find is not considering how your business is going to continue to grow and find new customers. All of this will come from attracting new leads who will become customers.
But if you haven’t put any thought into how you’re going to attract leads your business won’t grow.
One of the best ways to find leads is to have them find you through your website. Having a website that’s easy to navigate and scannable for both prospects and search engines allows for your business to attract customers.
Most importantly, having your website set up in a way where it’s easy to attract leads or buyers is essential to growing your business.
A good website should be good at telling your brand’s message and what your business can offer them. Your website should inspire visitors to take an action that will turn them into a lead for your business
Every page should have a well-thought call-to-action that will drive a visitor to take action. Whether it be to fill out a contact form, or click that “buy now” button, a good website from its design and copy, should drive people to take action.
Valuing edge over competitor
SEO is a topic we talk a lot about on our blog, as well as when we consult businesses on their website, and it’s important.
Having a website that is readable by search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo is key to bringing business to your website and gaining an advantage over your competitor. If your business is on page 1 of search results and your competitor is on page 2, then you’re more likely to be contacted for that service.
In the grand scheme of things, getting your business to show up well in search is more of a marathon than a sprint. You wouldn’t go to the gym once and expect to reach your ideal health goals. Keeping your business relevant and able to sway one visitor to use you over a rival is an enormous benefit.
By incorporating SEO into the foundation of your website, and then continuing to pursue activities that will help your website’s SEO, such as keyword focused blogs or Google Ads, you’ll make your business worth more as a helper to growing your business.
We see that business owners ask a website design firm to build a site that looks good but does not ask for it to show up well in the search engines until much later. What should be built, more often than not, is a site that looks good and shows up in search from the beginning.
Quality isn’t an easy commodity
In today’s world, there is a lot of competition that allows businesses to build a website for cheap. There’s outsourcing to countries where wages are low, or creating software that lets you make a basic website. But the truth is if you want something of value, you have to be willing to pay for it.
The lowest bidder is going try to finish it as soon as possible and with as little effort as possible. That does not help your business in the long run, other than save you some money upfront.
Having a website is an asset to your business, don’t undercut it’s potential.
If you have questions on your website or want to know what ways your website can benefit your business, contact us here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_btn title=”Contact Us” color=”primary” size=”lg” align=”center” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fdev-bngdesign2.pantheonsite.io%2Fcontact-us%2F|||” css=”.vc_custom_1511977138091{background-color: #ffffff !important;}” el_class=”BlueButton”][/vc_column][/vc_row]