The Project
People go online to do virtually everything, and regardless of your industry, if you don’t have a website, you could be missing out on potential business. These days, there is an expectation that a reputable business will have an online presence, and consumers may be wary of an organization that doesn’t. Having a good looking, easy-to-use website gives a potential customer the impression that they can expect the same positive experience in all areas of your business. Understanding what your customers are looking for and building a site that answers questions, or solves a problem is key to growing your business online.
Your website is your digital storefront, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; it’s often a customer’s first impression of your business. A well-designed, professional-looking website will enhance your credibility, build trust, and help drive visitor engagement. A user-friendly website allows visitors a low-pressure way to learn more about your business or organization from wherever they are. Because your site is always “on” consider using it to make timely updates to keep your customers informed about promotions or milestones.
Your website should provide your location, hours of operation, contact info, and any information about your products or services that potential customers might want to know (FAQs). The more you can provide, the better. Consider adding photo galleries to showcase your work, share positive testimonials or promotional videos to engage with users. Your website should explain to a user how your business can be trusted to solve their problem. Sharing this information all in one place can even help cut overhead by reducing your need to educate customers one on one. Your website is an extension of your business - think of it as your digital customer service representative.
Your site is accessible to everyone all over the world, and could be the key to breaking into new markets. Anyone can be your next customer online! Website analytics can help you identify who your typical customer is, how they found you, what they like, etc. These insights can help you adapt your business and marketing tactics to maximize sales, or engagement.
Digital advertising platforms like Google AdWords, and social media can help you reach your target audience more accurately and reliably than offline or traditional methods. By combining these paid channels with SEO, you can expect to see a lift in site traffic, and user engagement. Ideally, you want your company to show up first when a potential customer searches for your product or service online. Don’t lose opportunities to your competitors by not having an online presence.
Think long term, where do you want your business to be in a few years? Websites can evolve with you, but plan to invest with growth and scale in mind. Are there tools you could implement on your website like application forms, or booking software that could help streamline your processes? Will you be selling products online and require e-commerce? Build a website that you can grow into, show what your company is about, what you have achieved, and what you can do in the future. Think about the features you want your site to have, and how they might help turn a potential customer into a satisfied customer.
In summary, investing in a website can be an exciting opportunity to grow your business or organization by enhancing visibility, brand recognition, credibility, and customer engagement. Consider what you want your digital presence to be, and plan to create content that helps a potential customer decide your company is the right fit for their needs. Check out what your competitors are doing, and think about what a customer would be looking for online. Your website is like a virtual brand ambassador. Make sure you put your best foot forward.