Are Websites Still Relevant?
With the abundance of platforms out there claiming instant success of your business by simply advertising with them, you may be wondering: are websites still necessary in 2022?
The short answer…
YES!
There is no doubt that platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok have become essential to small business marketing and growth. Social media is an excellent marketing tool that helps your business reach new audiences, promote your brand and share valuable content. And it has the added bonus feature of being fun and even addictive. But while these accounts are certainly powerful tools for your small business, there is value in a website that social media just can’t provide.
What is a website?
For those of us not too clued up on the subject, here’s a quick lesson on websites:
A website is a collection of web pages and related material that contains text, images and other media; and is identified by a common domain name. To access a website, type its domain name in your browser address bar, and the browser will display the website’s main web page.
All publicly accessible websites collectively constitute the World Wide Web. They can be as simple as a few static pages or as complex as several web applications running simultaneously. Websites are typically dedicated to a particular topic or purpose and can be used as a personal website, corporate website, organization website or government website.
Why do I need a website?
To put it simply, it’s a matter of building trust.
If you think about it, whenever we decide to make a purchase, we always look for various alternatives before settling on one. We’re also heavily influenced by the backing of an appealing, effective and legitimate website for the product or service we’re looking for. Considering that the majority of people will start their research with Google, if they can’t find you by typing your company name into a search engine, that’s likely going to raise some alarm bells.
Your website is the ideal place to build trust. It’s all about you and how you do business. We’ve helped many companies from different industries do just that. We’ll help you ensure your website is a distraction-free way to tell your story and build trust.
If you still need convincing, here are the top reasons why websites are important:
1. CREDIBILITY
One of the main reasons you should have a website for your business is to increase your organization’s credibility. Chances are there are several providers offering a similar service or product to yours. One way you can stand out is by having a website that looks good and clearly communicates quality information to your consumers.
Without a website, people may question your legitimacy as a business. Having a website is an opportunity to make a great first impression and give people comfort that you’re a real business.
2. DIGITAL MARKETING
A website is considered your strongest digital marketing tool because it allows you to market your business through SEO, copywriting and branding. While social media is great for sharing content, it is limited to an audience who is only engaged on that social platform. This puts a limit on your reach.
Once you’re online and have an SEO-optimized website, you have a chance of showing up in Google search results. This means that when people are searching for a product or service, there is a chance your website will show up in the results, giving you the opportunity to drastically increase your customer base.
3. REVENUE
The accessibility of your business grows exponentially with a website, as it can be accessed from any corner of the world. If the reach of your website can cross borders, there really is no limit to the revenue that can be generated. It is the ideal place to offer related products and services right there at the point of sale. Even more, you can re-target previous customers with new products and offers via your website.
Aside from sales revenue, another way to generate income is to use some of your digital space on your website for display ads. This is is a great way to make your website work for you.
4. 24/7 AVAILABILITY
Many businesses get calls from prospects or existing customers asking simple questions about location and hours of operation. If you miss a call, the customer is left unhappy. Calls can also distract your staff during business hours. A website can reduce these calls and increase internal productivity. Even during non-business hours, customers can access your website and avail your services or get the information they need.
Since your website is on 24/7, it also makes it easy to keep your customers up to date with the latest offers and announcements.
How do I get a website?
Now that you know what a website is and why it is essential to have in your business, the next step is figuring out how to launch your own website.
Launching a website can sound overwhelming and a little scary. You may be hesitant because you feel you are not tech-savvy enough and don’t understand how to manage a website. Or you may be concerned about the price. The good news is, there’s a solution out there that will work for you.
Let’s explore the different ways to launch a website:
1. DIY IT
Designing a website yourself is the first way to launch a beautiful website. Web design platforms like WordPress make it easy for you to quickly and easily publish your new website and get started.
2. PURCHASE A WEB DESIGN TEMPLATE
Purchasing a web design template is the second way to launch a website. This is a great middle-ground option where a professional designer creates your template and you customize it with your own copy, brand colors and images.
This is the best option to ensure that you’ll launch an impressive and strategically designed website that will position yourself as a professional, market your business to your dream clients and help you reach your business goals so you can set yourself up for online success.
How much does a website cost?
The big question you may be asking yourself is, how much do I need to spend to get a website?
Irrespective of which route you choose to go when launching your website, it’s important to keep in mind that there will be a cost involved. Ultimately, the price of a website largely depends on two factors – what you need and who you’re getting it from.
Website builders are usually the cheapest option but don’t offer a lot of control or flexibility in the design. Doing it yourself using a platform like WordPress offers more freedom but can be extremely time consuming and requires some level of technical knowledge.
Hiring a professional can be expensive because it takes the technical hassle out of your hands while offering continuous support and maintenance. But, if you choose Appifiny as your solution provider, you can get a website from as little as R99 a month!
While it may be enticing to choose the cheapest option, you should take into account these elements before making a decision:
1. CONSIDER YOUR NEED
Are you offering a product or a service? If your website is product-oriented, will you require a shopping cart or e-commerce functionalities? Consider what it is you do.
2. NUMBER OF PAGES
Will it be a simple, straightforward one-pager or will there be product categories or services that requires an unlimited number of pages?
3. HOSTING AND MAINTENANCE
In order for your website to remain live, the monthly hosting cost as well as domain registration is a must. Often, this, along with the maintenance a website requires, gets overlooked. In addition to the design fee, you need to keep in mind the extra costs that will make up the final cost of a website.
If you read this far, you probably have questions about your own website. Get in touch with us today!
Appifiny Solutions is a digital and media solutions company offering custom, affordable and effective website packages. Our team of experts are sure to find the right solution for your need.