Updated June 15, 2022.
Do I really need a website?
“Do I really need a website?” is a perfectly legitimate question to ask. The short answer, ultimately, is “yes.” The data shows through and through that having a website for your business is getting more and more important.
The long answer is “yes, but…”
But what?
You may be thinking “C’mon, my business isn’t big like Walmart or Amazon, so I don’t need to invest that much into a website.”
That’s true, the investment that you put into your website and online presence is only going to be a fraction of what these companies put into theirs, but it doesn’t mean it should be non-existent.
Think of it this way:
These companies are setting a standard for online experience. Your market is coming to expect the treatment and ease of use that these major companies peddle to the masses.
If you can’t offer even the most basic online experience for your market they will likely turn somewhere else.
Making a website that matters
The crazy thing about Amazon, Google, and all the other giants is that they raise the bar for all the rest of us. On the one hand, it’s made life a lot easier for many people:
- With a few taps on your phone, your favorite product arrives at your door the next day
- A couple more taps, your favorite show is on
- A few more after that and you’re seeing a funny cat picture posted by your mom
All of this is made available by internet giants offering refined, specific services.
- Amazon offers online shopping
- Netflix offers shows
- Facebook offers social interaction
On the other hand, however, as a business owner, this is expected of you as well.
The trend is going up, people are more and more making purchases on their mobile devices.
Thanks to the standards set by these giants, it’s up to you, the business owner, to live up to these expectations.
- Baker? Placing an order for pickup should be a snap.
- General Contractor? Researching your credibility should be quick.
- Florist? Your customers shouldn’t have to spend more than 4 minutes sending flowers to a loved one.
Just having an “Informational Site” isn’t enough
I’m going to be honest with you. No one is ever happy with just an “informational site.”
Usually, it’s done by a business owner seeking to save a buck, and just get a website up without investing in marketing research or more specific solutions to their website.
They save at most 40% of the development costs just to get something up, do nothing with it, and then after about three to six years, their website is so out of date from the neglect that they need a brand new one.
So they get a new developer, save at most 40% on development costs, get a site up…
You get the idea.
The same service is bought over and over again with little to no true value actually generated.
The Big “But”
Do you know why these internet giants are so successful?
Their sites and services offer one thing and do it very well.
To truly get value from your own website you need to take the exact same approach. Know exactly who you are helping, how it’s helping you, how you’re going to measure that help, and what value this creates for the customer.
Yes, you need a website.
But, you have to know WHY you need the site, and exactly what it’s going to do for your and your customers.
If you don’t know the answer to this yet, don’t even start development until you do.
Thank you for reading! If you’re looking to learn more about our services and how we can help you, schedule a free consultation.
