It’s hard to believe that only 46% of small businesses have a website. That statistic is astonishing when you realise that people spend more than six hours a day on the Internet.

At Blue Whale Media, we understand how a small business can benefit from having a website; here are some reasons why:

Improve Business Credibility

A website is where your customers, clients and associates go to find you on the Internet.

The Home page identifies your brand and it’s values, the About Us page tells visitors all about your business and the Contact Us page is how people get in touch.

It improves your credibility as a business as well as giving your business identity and proof that it exists. 84% of consumers believe that having a website makes your business more credible than just a social media page.

Brand visibility and brand recognition

It’s crucial for your business to get as many people as possible informed about what you do. You want to let people know that your company exists, what it is called and how useful it can be for them.

A website that represents your business will help you provide online visibility and discoverability. This then helps to establish and enhance brand awareness and identity.

Relatability

The ability to relate to a target audience and build relationships is the benefit of creating and maintaining your business website. Using your site to tell a story about you and your business begins the relationship with website visitors. Understanding your audience will strengthen the connection between your business and the target audience.

Wider audience reach due to website accessibility 24/7

Regardless of what kind of business you are running, having a website accessible on a 7-day 24-hour basis is a huge advantage. Having a website allows you to expand your target audience and make connections with customers who are located far away from you. With a website, the whole globe is within your reach.

Gain a competitive advantage

Ninety-three percent of consumers use the Internet for research before making a purchase. Consumers want to be informed about their purchasing decisions— what they buy and from whom they buy. Without a website, you risk losing customers to businesses already taking advantage of the online marketplace. Eighty-four percent of small businesses say their website is valuable or critical to their business. There is no time like the present to establish your business website and get ahead of the competition.

People are searching for you online

One of the benefits of having a website for small businesses is to be where your consumers are. There’s a reason so many companies invest in a website with search engine optimization (SEO).

• Ninety-seven percent of people go online to find a local business.
• Ninety-three percent of online experiences begin with a search engine.
• 5 billion searches on Google per day.

The days of finding businesses in the bulky yellow pages are gone and won’t be returning.

Having a website for your business is a “must-have” and not just “nice to have” element of being in business.