Why do businesses have websites? Because they’re supposed to, right? For most businesses a website is just a check in the box, it’s an afterthought. But a website should be more than that. The purpose of a website is to make more sales! In fact, when used correctly it’s the most cost-effective marketing tool your business has. So let’s do it right because it matters.
Sounds like a lot of work, right? Well, since most of your competitors do such a poor job with their websites (if they even have one) it’s surprisingly easy to outdo them. At the end of this course you’ll be raising your rates to keep up with demand while your competitors are lowering their rates to generate demand.
Your website is the most cost-effective marketing tool your business has
Your website is the face of your business online. It’s available 24/7 for new customers to find you. Even while you sleep it’s converting website visitors into buyers…or at least, it could be.
What does your website tell prospective customers? It should be telling them exactly what you’d tell them: why they should choose you, what you can do for them, about your company, and how they can contact you. It should also answer their questions and show them examples of your work.
Your website can interact with thousands of customers a day. It doesn’t end like a TV or radio commercial and it can’t be thrown away like a print ad. Your website is always available. Best of all, it lets new customers find you exactly when they need you: when they’re looking for a solution to their problem in Google and other search engines. Your website is there to close the deal for you even when you’re out golfing.
Your home base online
You don’t own your Angie’s List or Yelp listing, Facebook business page, or any other online business listings. With these services you have a page on their site, that’s it. You don’t own it. If these companies decide to shut down, you’re out of luck. You’re at their mercy.
Your business website is the only thing you own. Your website domain name is yours no matter what. If your website hosting service shuts down you can just move your domain name to another host and upload your content. It is and always will be yours.
Since your website is the only thing you own, it’s your home base online. Your social media profiles, business listings, and everything else should point to your website. This way, even if these other companies kill your page or listing, your customers will always know where to find you: at your house, your home base online, your website.