There has never been a more opportune time to get your business a website than today. With businesses forced to close their brick-and-mortar operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, having an online presence may be a small business’ best bet in staying profitable.

Having a business website was beneficial before the pandemic hit—and it will continue to be a powerful marketing tool after it subsides. While web page design and development comes as a cost, it is a worthy investment that can generate a healthy return of investment in the long run.

To emphasise its importance, here are four benefits of getting a website for your business at this time.

1. It legitimises your business

According to a 2017 study by KPMG Consulting, 55% of customers will look for reviews and recommendations online before making a purchase, with 47% of these customers saying they look for the company website first. Given that figure, you could be losing over half of your potential customers by simply not having a website.

This is especially true for new brands with little to no brand recognition. With no material to determine the quality of your products or services, customers could just as quickly move on to a more recognisable brand with a website that does answer their questions.

2. It opens you up to local Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) opportunities

For the complete beginner, SEO is a series of practices that help you rank better on Google’s Search Engine Results Page (SERP) for specific keywords. SEO enables you to increase web traffic by ensuring that your website appears on the first page, if not on top of SERP consistently. Local SEO is an extension of those practices, but with greater emphasis on ranking for keywords that users in your local area might use.

According to research published by Google, local search queries that include “Where to buy” and “near me” have grown over 200% in the past two years. This mirrors the fact that most people use Google Search to look for local businesses that can fulfil their needs, such as local restaurants or shops. SEO agencies take advantage of these facts by using these keywords in your content to enhance the customer’s experience.

3. It works for you 24/7

Think of a website as a salesman that is just ready to answer inquiries and show off your products and services to potential customers even while you’re asleep. Websites are a cost-effective way to maximise your reach, and unlike physical marketing collaterals, you are not pressed for space.

4. It allows people to find you online

As mentioned above, your website may be the only way for customers to reach you if the pandemic has forced you to close your brick-and-mortar shop. However, research reveals that over 70 percent of consumers begin their purchasing journey on search engines like Google.

If you’re a relative newcomer, the good news is that this means brand loyalty doesn’t hold as much weight on certain purchase decisions anymore. Consumers know how many options they have on their fingertips, which means that they have the confidence to shop around multiple providers to get the best deal. However, this also means that without a website, you wouldn’t be able to compete with those that have already established their online presence.

Conclusion

The best time to get a website was yesterday—but now is just as good a time as any! Getting your business a website may have been a competitive edge a few years ago, but today it’s an absolute requirement to stay competitive.

Are you looking for a professional website design and development service that can create an optimised website for your business? Uplift 360 is a web development agency based in Melbourne and Torquay. We empower businesses through effective and creative web page designs. Get in touch with us and optimise your online presence today!