6 Vital Reasons Why You Need A Website & Social Media – Infographic

It’s shocking to me how many businesses still don’t have their own website! In today’s digital environment, that could mean a dwindling revenue stream if not a total collapse of a business.

Why are so many not seeing the benefits of a website?

Many small business owners are still thinking “old school” and relying on word of mouth to attract new customers. And many others say its cost, irrelevance to their industry, or they simply use social media only.

According to TDA, a company that connects companies with digital agencies:

• Less than two-thirds (64%) of small businesses have a website.
• 35% of small businesses feel their operation is too small to warrant a website.
• 1 in 5 small businesses don’t use digital marketing yet.
• 26% of small businesses believe their customers are not online.
• 11% of small business don’t see value in it

And these stats are just a few of the many reasons why business owners haven’t yet created their websites.

Thankfully, as each year passes, they are seeing not only the need for a website but its many benefits to increasing brand awareness, lead generation (more customers), profits, etc.

Social media is also very important when linked to a website. When they can utilize both, its a win-win.

Take a look at the following infographic, to get a visual appreciation of social media and websites for businesses…

6 Vital Reasons Why You Need A Website & Social Media

Though social media on its own can be quite helpful if properly applied, combining it with your own website can be a powerful profit booster.

As you saw in the infographic, there are some incredible benefits to using both a website and social media. Let’s see what can happen when we utilize both together…

#1: Increased Brand Awareness

A website is your business’s piece of online real estate. It helps your followers to get an inside glimpse of your “why”. Why you do what you do, and how you can help bring solutions to your visitors.

Or if you discover some misleading ideas about what your business represents, social media and an engaging website can help you correct those perceptions.

Wouldn’t you love to know what people are saying about your business? Wouldn’t you love to engage with them?

Imagine how great it would be if you could discuss your products on social media and send them to your website for better descriptions and clarification.

Take a look at Twitter:

• 49% of internet users have Twitter accounts.
• 67% of Twitter users are more likely to buy brands that they follow.

Doesn’t it make sense to use Twitter for promotions and send your followers directly to your website? Any social media platform can do this.

Both your website and social media presence will help grow your brand as you educate your followers about what it is you can provide.

#2: Increased Traffic

What business ever said, “I have enough traffic”?  Your traffic is the lifeblood of your business. No traffic means no sales!

A website can seriously affect those numbers. If potential customers can look you up online, and you have an amazing website that can convert, think of all the additional sales you could get.

Many people will not trust a company who doesn’t have a website and will continue looking until they find someone transparent enough to share their vision online.

What do you do when you see a business name on social media, with only a phone number and location but not a website? How do you feel? Personally, I usually keep looking.

Let’s take a look at Facebook:

• 85% of internet users have Facebook accounts.
• 42% of Facebook users have mentioned a brand on their status updates.
• 20% of Facebook users have purchased something because of ads or comments they saw there.

I know you think Facebook is only for the older “baby boomers”, but it’s still the most used of all the social media platforms.

Imagine how much more traffic you could attract to your website!!

#3: More Targeted Marketing

Did you know that many social media platforms have their own statistics gathering information for business pages?

Take Facebook for instance. They offer tutorials to help you with your audience insights. They can tell you about the people who use Facebook, as well as people who connect to your page.

You can get stats on:

• Age and gender breakdowns
• Education levels
• Job titles
• Relationship statuses
• Interests and hobbies
• Lifestyles
• and much more…

Audience Insights can tell you about the types of people interested in your business.

Now imagine if you added your website URL to your targeted promotions?

When you promote to Facebook users who would be specifically interested in your products, think how much better you’d be able to convert them when they get to your amazing website!

#4: Round The Clock Sales

It’s great if you have a brick and mortar store with extended business hours, but you still have to sleep, right?

Did you know that your own website is active 24/7? When you create a business website, it never sleeps. It can represent your company values, products, services, and even customer help any time of day or night.

With an online shopping cart, you can get paying customers around the globe, whenever they want to buy something. No dependence on your physical business hours.

And social media is the same. It never sleeps. Let’s look at more statistics:

• 43% of all online consumers are social media fans or followers.
• 80% of people prefer to get coupons, promos, and discounts from brands in social media.

So there you have it! Promote some great sales on social media, direct them to your website, and make some great profits at any time.

#5: Cost-Effective Advertising

Are you a small business whose profits are being chewed up with traditional advertising?

Running ads in newspapers or magazines is expensive and not as effective anymore. Everyone is going digital. Do you even still get your morning paper? lol.

Running televisions commercials is only for the “big boys” and totally out of reach for small and medium businesses.

Even creating brochures or catalogues is expensive, let along keeping things updated in a timely manner.

But a website? That’s a drop in the bucket in comparison. A domain name might cost you approximately $15 per year, and hosting can range from $25 to $50 per month depending on your needs.

And updating your information is quick and easy!

Advertising costs on social media, if that’s the route you wish to take, is still relatively cheap when using the right keywords for your promotions.

But having your own business page on whichever social media sites would attract the most customers for your niche, is a great combination with your website.

Simply add your website address to your promotional material, and you’ll get some great exposure!

#6: Affiliate Marketing

Another extremely cost-effective way to promote your products and services is via affiliate marketing.

An affiliate program means you invite people to promote your goods on your behalf, in exchange for a commission.

It doesn’t cost you anything more than whatever percentage of the profits you wish to give to your affiliates.

You bear no responsibility for the affiliate’s advertising costs:

• Your affiliate sends you the customers.
• Your creative website content does the converting to sales.
• You pay your affiliate the agreed-upon commission.
• You pocket the remaining profit.

In this case, it’s your affiliates who would use social media for their own affiliate promotions. Unless you wish to promote your affiliate program there…

Conclusion

There are many more great reasons to have your own website alongside using social media.

It’s a shame that so many businesses still think it’s not cost-effective or too difficult to create a website. It’s really not hard, especially with today’s quick and easy website builders.

I have seen multiple businesses struggle or fail due to a lack of an online presence. And it’s such an easy fix…

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Do you have a small business? How are you doing? Do you have a website yet? Or maybe you need help with the one you have…

If you have any comments or questions, please leave them below and I’ll get right back to you.

Cheers for now,

Suzanne