Do You Need a Website or is Social Media Enough?

With the rising popularity of social media sites like Facebook and Instagram and the proliferation of apps, some new business owners are questioning whether they need to invest in a website. If you’ve had that thought, we’ll cut right to the chase… Yes, you need a website, and a well-designed one at that!

You want to be where your customers and potential customers are, and they’re on the Internet. The web has a significantly farther reach than any other type of advertising, and a website can help you accomplish a variety of marketing strategies to reach more prospects, build relationships, and keep current customers engaged. If you don’t have a website for your business, you’ll miss out on some great opportunities.

Your website should be the center or hub of your brand and your online marketing efforts, and you can (and should) use social media platforms and apps to drive customers to your website. Your website is where you store your content such as videos, downloadable reports and other content, and show people how great your business and product or service are. Through it, you can advertise around the web on pay-per-click advertising, forums, social networking sites, etc., and even create custom landing pages tied to specific ads and events.

It’s always important to remember that you have very little control over social media platforms. They can (and do) change the playing field all the time. Facebook can and does change the rules for how businesses connect with and advertise to their fans and customers. However, you do have complete control over your website.

But there’s more to a website than just an online presence: it should work for you by turning visitors into leads, generating income, and growing your business, so it becomes an asset rather than an expense. In fact, properly designed, your website can be, hands-down, your most valuable digital asset.

Even when all of your employees are tucked in bed or binge-watching the latest Netflix series, a website allows your customers and prospects to access your site from just about anywhere anytime and learn more about your product or service, your hours of operation, how to get to your facility, etc. If you set up an e-commerce site, they can even purchase your products from the comfort of their own home 24/7!

Most people check online before making a purchase, and having a professionally designed website helps build credibility and trust for your business. Today, most people expect a business to have a very credible website, and if it doesn’t, they may assume that you’re a fly-by-night company even if you’ve been in business for decades.

Plus, a blog on your website can help demonstrate your expertise and drive prospects who don’t even know you exist to your site to learn more about you. Testimonials on your website can show potential customers what others are saying about your product or service and why they should trust you.

A well-designed, professional website can even give the impression that your company is bigger than it is and with the right SEO strategy can help you rank higher than the big corporations, which helps level the playing field.

Online marketing strategies that advertise and market your business have been proven to be effective, and with a professional website, you can choose what types of online advertising are right for your business, and then develop your website landing pages accordingly.

Almost everyone is on the Internet, so a professional website that includes SEO strategies will help you get found by more people. Even if they haven’t heard about your business, a search for information can lead them right to your website. Plus, you may want to reach out to people beyond your local community. A professional website allows you to do that.

Think about the last time you Googled a business and discovered they didn’t have a website. Can you even remember the last time that happened, and if it did, what was your impression of that business? The truth is that business websites are a key factor for developing new and returning customers.

Platforms like GoDaddy and WordPress that allow you to create your website from a template are fine if your only goal is to have an “online presence.” They offer templates that look good, but a website can do so much more for your business than just provide an online presence. Ideally, your website should be designed to support the look, feel, messaging and value propositions in the best possible manner.

Using a web design platform that frees you from the restrictions of template-based designs can be a much better and more flexible strategy for businesses that have a budget beyond the bare minimum. This is especially true as your business evolves. Freedom from a template-based system provides the flexibility to adapt to new services and product offerings over time without forcing these additions to fit within the template mold.

If you want to reach more people, turn visitors into leads, and allow your website to become an asset to your business, you need a professionally developed website that addresses not only how your site looks, but also how it can help you grow your business by helping you get found, make a great impression, engage your visitors, and convert them into leads and repeat customers.

That’s our specialty and we stand ready to help you succeed. For a free web design consultation, give the PMI team a call at (484) 297-6395 or contact us online. And if you need help with social media, we have an extensive range of services to boost your impact. Get the best of both - contact us to learn more.