Having a good company website is no longer just an added bonus. It’s now something that is absolutely crucial to the success of your business. Here are some of the reasons why a good website is so important, and could even mean the difference between your success and failure.
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You’re Always Open
Unlike a brick and mortar store, when you have a website online you’re essentially ‘always open.’ Customers can place orders or get the information they need without you physically being there. This is not only cost effective, but convenient for all parties too. It allows you to reach customers from further away, as well as those that just would have never stumbled upon your business any other way. Being accessible is key, and having a website allows you to be exactly that.
People Are Put Off By Slow Websites
According to research, almost half of people will click off a website if it doesn’t load within three seconds. And a slow or badly designed website would be enough to put them off so badly that they’d never return. In the age of instant gratification, your site needs to be fast, intuitive with easy to find information within the click of your fingers. You’ll need a clean, crisp and professional design. It should be aesthetically pleasing, but without putting style over substance. It will contain important features such as a search bar and clear navigation. Hiring a company which offers IT support could be useful, as it gives you peace of mind if anything goes wrong. Even being offline or displaying a broken website for a few hours could cost you valuable customers.
It Makes Your Company Look Trustworthy
Most people take their online safety seriously. People are wary of buying things and putting information into websites that they don’t know or that don’t seem credible (for good reason!) A professional, well thought out website helps to show them that you’re a legitimate business. Your website needs to look smart and professional, you need a web design expert to bring your vision to life and ensure your business presents itself in the best way possible online. People will often buy from places that they know, just because they see this as the safer option. And so to convince them to take the leap and buy from you instead, you need to show them that you are legitimate and trustworthy.
Peace of Mind For Customers
Your website should have clear contact information, such as a support email address, links to well-run social media accounts and a phone number. This gives customers peace of mind. They’re going to want to know that if they make a purchase, that they can get hold of someone if anything goes wrong. Again it just makes your company look more trustworthy and reliable which is something that customers want. You could add a contact form to make sending queries quick and easy. Displaying a support email address too, in case people prefer to email through their regular email account.
They Can Browse ‘On The Go.’
For the first time, more sales are now made through mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets than on traditional laptops and computers. To ensure you’re making the most of this, a great company website will be fully optimized for all devices. Again, something as simple as a poorly optimized site could be the difference between success and failure. Having to zoom in on text or scroll sideways may well be enough to put potential customers off.