Why do I need a website?

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This is a genuine question we get asked all the time, people have been told they need a website but don’t necessarily know the reasons for it.

Let’s break it down

Depending on the sort of business you operate, a website can have a number of applications. The sort of customer that tends to ask why they need a website is the customer that does something not intrinsically linked with the internet. A company selling car detailing products online already knows why they need a website – it’s a core part of their business model!

A good example might be a local plumber. A trade that doesn’t specifically require a website in order to function, however the benefits of having one are really substantial.

Visibility: This is the most obvious. At its most basic level, people hear company names or get a company recommended. What’s the first thing they do? Generally, they tap it into Google to locate the company contact details. If they have a web presence and they’re easily findable – that’s a potential customer that’s going to make contact vs a customer that will probably end up finding another similar company first.

Authority: Extremely important and often underestimated! A company that has no website address and a free email address (like barrythornton_dirtbikelover@hotmail.co.uk) is not going to come across to a prospective customer as looking especially professional. It makes a world of difference for a customer to find an attractive website, easily findable with examples of work, testimonials, contact details and a proper email address (info@barrysdirtbikes.co.uk might be better in this case!).

Perceived value: This is also less obvious. A company operating from an unbranded white van, with no website, no email address etc. will have the appearance of a budget service provider. As such, there’s research to suggest that the amount customers deem an appropriate cost for the services rendered will be lower. If a tradesman turns up in a smartly presented van with sign writing, has a website and proper branding they actually have a higher perceived value, hence will generally invoice their services at a higher rate.

I hope this gives you some food for thought if you were going to ask why you need a website. If you’ve still got questions – get in touch!