It's Time
So you've started a new business, and you are trying to get the word out about your products or services. You've got a steady income but you're looking to lock down more clients or scale your business. It's time to get a website.
"How will a website help me get more sales and scale my business?" A website will open countless opportunities for you. Some of these opportunities include leveraging social media and word of mouth marketing, automating payments and freeing up your time.
In business it's always important to work smarter and not harder. A website or E-commerce solution is the logical next step, and in this post I am going to explain why.
It’s Time to Get a Website
Why does your business need a website? First off, it gives clients a way to learn more about you, but more importantly it enables them to order and pay online.
Online Payments
This is way more convenient than having to reach out to a business directly. We live in the swipe right generation. Not only have people gotten accustomed to instant gratification, it's expected and demanded! Customers want convenience, and if you can't give it to them, they will go find it somewhere else.
And someone else with a website is also offering these same products and services, and competing for their purchase. People vote with their money.( They are probably going to vote for the person with a website)
Leverage Word of Mouth Referrals
When you have a website it's even more convenient for your existing customers to share your offerings with their social circle. It's as simple as pasting the link into their instant messaging app, email or sharing it out on social media.
If their social media account has millions of followers that's instant free advertising. But that's just one of the many possibilities when it comes to sharing potential.
For example your client might show your product to a friend or family member on their smartphone. Upon seeing it, they will instantly be able to purchase the product right then and there with the click of a button.
Save Money
Many new businesses that are just starting out (or even well established ones) always have overheads. You have to pay rent, employees, electricity etc. In addition to all of these costs your physical store is also limited in its scope to reach people.
For example your store is probably only going to be open from 9AM - 5PM, And then your reach will also be limited to the store location.
With a website you don't have any of these issues. For $12.00 a month, you can have a fully operational store with automated systems that is available to the public 24/7.
Save Time
A website is automated for the most part and orders will arrive straight to your inbox. Managing your website or E-commerce solution won't demand more than 15 - 30 minutes of your day. This will give you a lot more free time – which is a precious commodity.
It’s Easier to Get Discovered
Once you have a website, it's easier for people to discover you through online search. I have mentioned in a previous article that nobody uses the phone book anymore. The number 1 method that people use to find a product or service is the internet.
It Makes Sense
Getting a website is logically the best course of action if you want to close more sales and scale your business. You may be spending money on digital marketing tools, and other forms of promotion but without a website you are limiting your impact.
Related Comments and Questions
"I don't have a website, I get all of my customers through word of mouth which is the real way of doing business. If they don't like it, they can go somewhere else."
Without a doubt, they will go somewhere else. Other people with websites are offering the same products and services that you do. Think about it, they will probably reach the customers first and they offer convenience while saving them time and money.
There's also a principle in business that whoever gets a customer first, gets the monopoly on their consumer world view and all buying decisions. What does this mean? Later on when you present your offerings, it will be hard to convert them because they already have a 'guy'.
They trust that 'guy' and he has the high ground when it comes to defending their view (because he shaped it) i.e. you won't be able to compete.
"How soon will I start seeing returns on my investment?"
Having a professional business website is not a get rich quick scheme. It's a method that utilizes proven technology and automated systems which work together to build consistent results.
Therefore, the results may vary according to your targets and expectations.
However, the return on investment is much higher than having a physical storefront, or not not having a website at all. This makes it a great option for investing into your business.
Additionally, the upfront costs are lower with long term savings.
“I don’t want a website, I want a marketing tool like Facebook ads”
Leveraging Social media like Facebook and other platforms for marketing is a great way for people to learn about your business. However, without a website you are severely limiting your impact. At a minimum having a website provides you with a shareable link which will improve your ability to reach new people, establish trust and maintain a professional image.
Your homepage URL is evergreen, which means people can discover your link years from now and become new clients. That is how far reaching the benefits of having a website can be. It can bring sales for years to come.
“How does a website save me time if I have to invest time and effort to maintain a blog?”
Unless you are a media company, you don’t need to have a fresh blog post ready every day. The key is just to be consistent when posting. For example If you spend 5 - 10 minutes a day writing one or two paragraphs, then you will have a blog post ready by the end of the week.
Let’s look at it rationally, you’ll spend 30 minutes on your Ecommerce solution every day, and another 15 minutes on your blog. That’s 45 minutes. Let’s equate that to the 8 hours daily (this doesn’t include overtime) that goes into managing a physical store, and it becomes clear that there’s no contest.
Please reach out to me if you have any other questions or concerns and I will be happy to respond with a personal email or a future article.