Do I need a website?
Many small businesses and nonprofit organizations ask themselves this question from time to time. Creating a website is time consuming and costs money. Is it really worth it is another important question asked by businesses and nonprofit organizations.
My first blog was entitled: Why are websites so important? It was short and to the point. YES, a website is important to small businesses and nonprofit organizations. A website works for you 24/7 welcoming current clients and perspective clients to your business and showing them around. Keep your website current and engaging.
Your website can engage customers or clients 24 hours a day for 365 days a year to:
Act as a brochure and give information about the business
Provide online sales
Showcase past and future events
Include current images and/or videos
Gives a way to connect with you
Most importantly, welcome the visitor
A website can guide a visitor and welcome them to your business or organization 24/7. It can show them around and explain who you are, what you have done and why you do what you do. A website is usually is a first contact by a visitor and will help them decide if they want to do business with you or join your organization.
A website helps to establish your business. Customers today expect businesses and nonprofit organizations to have a website. The website needs to be:
professional and well designed
updated with new images, videos and/or content
provide a way to contact the business or organization
A website is not helpful if you are going to create it and let it sit online without updates or changes. People will notice and that will reflect their thoughts on your business or organization.
Credibility and Trust
A website gives your business or organization credibility and builds trust with those wanting to know about your business or organization. If built correctly, a website gives the visitor to your site all the information they need in a professional manner that is easy to navigate. Just like the welcoming person when a visitor comes to your business, meeting or when you answer the phone call. Your website will be a first impression to those wanting to know about you.
Social Media
Many businesses and organizations are happy with keeping their information on social media, but you have to update it often so that those who follow you will see the information. BUT they will have to dig deep to see more information about what you have done in the past. Upcoming events and postings are good to keep your business name out there but make sure you have a website to direct those interested so they can find more information about you in a professional manner.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
A website is a landing pad for your business. Most people will go to their favorite search engine and use key words to look up what they need. With proper SEO, Search Engine Optimization, potential clients or customers will be sent to your business or organization. Search Engine Optimization maximizes the number of visitors to your website. When I design a website for a client, I build in SEO keywords throughout each page, and I teach the client how to do that going forward. The more specific information you can put on your website the better to direct those people who want to see you and need to see you.
Dedicated Website
In my blog post An Insider’s Look at moving an Etsy, Shopify, or Big Cartel Business to Squarespace I shared why it’s important to have a dedicated website to your business. Commerce marketplaces have a platform that connects sellers with buyers. For a business just starting out this may be a no-brainer and straightforward way to market your items. As your business grows and your needs change you may want a website that welcomes your visitor in and shows them around 24/7. They can find out about your business, see what goods and services are offered, look at your events, read your blog, and contact you. If you like how your items are displayed on these commerce marketplaces you could have a website designed for your business and for your commerce area have the visitor easily directed to the other website for online sales. This may be something you do when first starting out with your website and once you have an established business you may not have the need to pay for an online marketplace. Your clients will come to you.
What do you envision a visitor to see when they find you? This is what you need to communicate with your website designer. This is how I design a website, based on what my client envisions. These needs change over time and are easy to alter.
One of the biggest hurdles I have experienced with small businesses and nonprofits is that a website and the yearly maintenance fees are too expensive. It doesn’t have to be that way. Find a design company who can build a website and teach you how to use it. You can make your own updates and changes so that your cost will be the initial cost to design the website to the website designer and not yearly fees. If you want to redesign the site at a later time you could ask the hourly fee for updates and even maintenance, if needed.
For yearly hosting and domain fees take a look at Squarespace pricing.
Your website designer can walk you through the fees and hosting. I take time to find out the needs of my client so I can match the correct pricing plan to their needs.
May Web Design, LLC refreshes and creates affordable websites that enable clients to take ownership and update themselves on a Squarespace platform. I enjoy helping clients increase customer engagement with a website and improve their overall web presence. The most important part of my business is that when I have completed and reviewed the website with a client, I teach the client how to update their website so that they can keep it fresh and new. A website offers a 24/7 welcome to prospective members, showing them what your business or organization has accomplished and what you plan to do. If built correctly it should welcome people to the site and show them around in a comfortable way.
If you are interested in discussing the needs of a website for your business or nonprofit organization contact May Web Design, LLC. Starting out with a basic brochure website may be all that your business or organization needs. Your website should grow with you and change as needed.
