With social media being as dominant as ever, as a small business owner, you might find yourself asking, “Do I need a website?” This is a great question and in this blog post we are going to answer just that.
With social media being what it is today in 2023, it can be easier to reach your target audience online than it might have been in the past. But as your business grows, and you start to see success, you’ll soon realize that relying solely on social media might not be enough.
Suffering from the Limitations of Relying on Social Media Alone
There are a few problems and difficulties that your business will face when you don’t have a website, your website is out of date, or you rely solely on social media for your online presence.
Here are some of those problems:
1. Limited Visibility
As a business, relying on social media for your online presence means your visibility will be limited to only the people who follow you. This obviously makes it a bit difficult when you’re trying to reach new customers and expand your audience.
When you start out on social media, your following is 0. Which means you have to work really hard (or pay a bunch of money) to get your page out there to as many people as possible.
2. Lack of Credibility
By itself, a social media page does not convey credibility or professionalism. Most pages are not verified, so anyone can be anyone. But having a website is usually a requirement to get verified, regardless of what social media platform you’re on.
Customers are way more likely to trust your business when you have a website backing it. It shows that your business is serious and is committed to serving its customers.
3. Difficulty in Communicating the Brand
Let me ask you a question. If everyone’s social media pages are styled the same way, how do you stand out?
A complete website will do its job communicating your brand effectively in the light you want it to. You can guide your customer through their journey on your website better than social media allows on its pages.
You have to remember that your social media pages are not designed for customers to find out much about your business. Let’s not forget that if someone comes to your social media page, they most likely won’t know what to do. Social media pages lack a proper Call to Action (more on that later).
4. Limitations in Functionality
Let’s talk about the functionality of your website versus the functionality of social media pages. It’s no secret that there isn’t much functionality on social media. You look at pictures and text, and you can’t do much after that. There are some exceptions like Instagram where you can buy things directly on the app, but even that doesn’t allow you to properly funnel a potential customer like a website would.
No matter what you are using for your social media, you are going to have very limited design options. On the other hand, your website can be whatever you want it to be and do whatever you want it to do.
Why Owning Your Own Digital Real Estate is Crucial for Your Business Success
When it comes to establishing a strong online presence, it’s important to decide your platform. While social media can be great, it’s critical to remember that you don’t actually own any of the content you post on these platforms. These means that at any time Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, you name it, can change their Terms of Service or even their entire business model overnight and put you at risk.
Can you imagine putting your entire business on one of these platforms, and then they start removing your content or even suspend/deactivate your account? This can happen if you violate their community guidelines (which means you have to read ALL of their community guidelines to know what not to do) or even a simple algorithm change. The result can be devastating for your business and lead to loss of sales and customer engagement.
There is also a new term called shadow-banning:
Basically, shadow-banning is when a social media platform will hide your content from users, making you invisible to everyone but yourself. Ordinarily, you won’t even realize what is going on. On your end it will seem like your engagement plummeted out of nowhere, but to everyone else they don’t even know you’re posting content.
On the other hand, having your own website gives you complete control over your digital real estate. You own everything. The content, the design, the customer data, all of it. This gives you the freedom to do what you want and build a strong, consistent brand presence that you can continue to grow and develop over time. Additionally, by collecting customer data yourself, you can use that data to drive better marketing and sales results.
In short, owning your own digital real estate is crucial for your business success. A website gives you the control and stability you need to grow and succeed in today’s online marketplace. So don’t risk losing your online presence and potential sales by relying solely on social media – invest in a website that you can call your own.
A Better Way: The Benefits of Investing in a Website for Your Business
It shouldn’t be a secret by now, the solution to relying on social media for your business is a website. But it’s also not that simple because your website still has to be built effectively. A website can help businesses overcome the limitations of low visibility, limited credibility, and a decreased ability to attract and convert customers.
For example, having a website gives your business a platform to showcase your company’s products and services, which will in turn allow you to reach a wider audience and attract new customers. A website will also increase your credibility significantly. Additionally, a website provides a level of credibility that just can’t be achieved through social media alone, helping businesses establish trust with their target audience.
Conversion-based website design include
- Copywriting first design strategy
- Easy navigation
- Clear calls to action
Here at Unity Web Design & Development LLC, we use these practices on every project we do. We believe that every business owner should have a website that is tailored to their specific needs and goals.
Having a website is essential for businesses in today’s digital world. It provides a platform to showcase all your products and services, establish credibility, and attract and convert more customers. By investing in a website, you don’t have to rely on social media anymore.
The Proof is in the Numbers: Benefits of Having a Website
As we’ve already discussed, having a website can bring a wealth of benefits to businesses, including increased visibility, credibility, and the ability to attract and convert more customers. But don’t just take our word for it! There’s plenty of evidence out there to support the importance of having a website.
For example, consider these statistics:
- 64% of small businesses have their own website. (Devrix)
- 38% of people will stop interacting with a poorly designed site (Fit Small Business)
- 97% of consumers (basically everyone) use the internet to search for products or services (Moz).
- 46% of searches are for local business (Social Media Today)
- 35% of small business owners think they aren’t large enough to need a website (WPForms)
With so many potential customers looking online, having a website is crucial to ensure that your business can be found and chosen.
Take the case of one of our clients, Kind Care Co., a pet sitting & dog walking company servicing North Port and Port Charlotte. When we first worked together, the owner was running the business by herself and had one other person hired as she was set to go on maternity leave.
Since then, the company has hired 3 more people. We couldn’t be more proud to see their growth. At Unity Web Design & Development LLC, we are eager to hear about our clients’ success stories. The way I see it, we only succeed if you succeed.
Our clients are our biggest advocates. Here’s what Deanna from Kind Care Co. had to say about working with us:
Kevin is knowledgeable, informative, and thorough. Far exceeded the expectations of my website and the entire process. Highly recommend.
Don’t Wait, Act Now
The digital world is constantly evolving, and businesses that don’t have a website risk falling behind their competitors. If you don’t act now, you may miss out on opportunities and sales that could have been yours. By waiting, you could also be missing out on the increased visibility, credibility, and ability to attract and convert more customers that a website can bring.
Time is of the essence when it comes to having a website. The longer you wait, the further behind you fall, and the harder it becomes to catch up. Thanks to Unity Web Design & Development LLC, you can have a website up and running in no time, putting your business in a strong position to succeed online.
Get Your Business Online Today
In today’s digital world, having a website is essential for the success of your business. Don’t risk falling behind your competitors. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your business thrive online. We are experts, and we are ready to answer any questions you have and guide you through the process of creating a website that meets your specific needs and goals.
Don’t wait – the benefits of having a website are too great to ignore. Get started now and see the difference it can make for your business. Contact Unity Web Design & Development LLC today to learn more.
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