As a small business owner, you’ve likely heard people say your business needs a website. But how do you make the time for that when you’re busy running your business, right? It may even be easy to think social media can do the job for you without a website. With so many people shopping online, browsing online, and researching purchases online, it’s no longer an option to have a website.
If your small business wants to compete and thrive, you need a website. Make it your priority and fast!
4 Reasons Your Small Business Needs a Website
The majority of people in the U.S. shop online.
More shoppers are skipping the lines and frustration on the streets by running to the web. In fact, Cyber Monday 2018 was the biggest shopping day in U.S. history, according to Adobe Analytics, with $7.9 billion spent shopping online.
To take it one step further, a report by ROBO Economy shows that 82% of smartphone users researched a product on their phones while in store, and 45% read reviews before making a purchase. So, even if your business is considered mostly a “brick and mortar” business, customers are still likely to research you online before coming in store.
A website makes you more discoverable.
We already know that many people search online when researching a purchase, but how do they start? 93% of online experiences begin with a search engine. Specifically, many begin on Google since Google currently holds 80.5% of total search engine market share. So what must you do to rank in Google search? Start with a website.
Yes, as social media popularity grows, your fan page on sites like Facebook will turn up in search results. But in search engine optimization standards, a company that lists a full range of online tools – such as a website, social media page, Google My business listing, etc. – will rank higher in search results.
A website is the beginning of your foundation to being found online. List your web address on your social media profile or Google My Business listing, and your online presence is quickly linked, thus, making you more discoverable.
A business website makes you look more legitimate.
Simply put, people expect legitimate businesses to have websites. Many people turn to Google or Alexa for research, and if they can’t find you or anything about you on Google, they may think your business is suspicious. Nearly one third of small businesses don’t have a website. Make yours the one that stands out with a professional website.
A website allows you to control your own content.
Some people think a website is unnecessary since social media is so prominent and allows you a “free” space to present your business. The problem with this idea is that social media algorithms show people more content from their personal friends and groups, and less content from brands and news outlets – unless you’re willing to pay for ad boosting, of course. Don’t leave your content to the discretion of the social media platforms; control your message with a business website.
So what can you do? It takes a lot of time and energy simply running your business. How can you make a professional website fast? There are two options you should consider – a drag-and-drop website builder can get you online in a few quick steps or, if you need more robust cPanel features, try a WordPress website backed with quality website hosting. Here are some options to consider…
Consider a WordPress website backed by quality website hosting…
Looking for a true content management system? WordPress is a great option. In fact, this popular content management system holds 50-60% of the market share of content management systems, making WordPress the #1 most popular choice.
Benefits of using WordPress? Multiple people can have login accounts to manage your website. For example, a product manager could be responsible for running your online store and a marketing assistant could write for your blog. In addition, since WordPress is so widely used, you can find affordable design templates and free plugins to elevate your website.
HostGator is a web hosting company that offers WordPress website hosting at 2.5 times faster than the competition. The HostGator package comes with a clean and easy-to-use control panel, free migration services from your old site to HostGator, free SSL security certificates, and 24/7/365 world-class customer support.
Try the frustration-free, drag-and-drop Gator Website Builder by HostGator…
If the idea of updating WordPress software and selecting plugins seems a bit overwhelming, try the new drag-and-drop website builder solution from HostGator – Gator Website Builder. Gator Website Builder was created for anyone who has an idea for a website and wants a frustration-free solution to build and launch a website with ease.
Gator is a robust website building that features an easy to understand, drag-and-drop page builder so you can get started quickly. In addition, Gator comes with some of the basics you need such as included website hosting, security basics like an SSL certificate, and a free domain name. Gator also has a guided tutorial to help you set up and launch your website with ease, plus more than 200 professional designed templates already included. An added bonus? Gator Website Builder is backed by HostGator’s 99.9% uptime guarantee and 24/7/365 customer support.
No matter your business idea or size of website, HostGator has a package to meet your needs. Give the new Gator Website Builder a try if you want to get your small business online fast.
