Imagine being a small business of five people, but no one knows the best way to get online. What would the options be? Continue using your social media platforms to find new customers or create a website for your small business?
This might seem like a tricky decision, but it’s actually a fantastic chance to share how a professional website can spark growth and attract more customers online. Effective search engine optimization (SEO) is crucial in enhancing website visibility and attracting a broader audience. Let’s explore why small businesses often hesitate to build a website and discover straightforward solutions to tackle these challenges.
- Why Does Having a Small Business Website Matter Today? Top Benefits
- Why Do Small Businesses Hesitate to Build a Website?
- Hostopia’s Practical Tips to Get Every Small Business Started
Why Does Having a Small Business Website Matter Today? Here are the Top 4 Benefits:
Building a website for your small business brings many benefits, but if we could pick the top four here at Hostopia, we would come up with the following:
1. Builds Credibility & Expands Reach
A professional website instantly boosts your business’s credibility, making you appear more trustworthy and legitimate to your target audience. Creating your own website, however, comes with challenges such as complexities, sometimes hidden costs, and the potential for a low-quality end product. It allows you to reach a global audience anytime, growing your business beyond local boundaries while sleeping or relaxing.
2. It’s a Cost-Effective Marketing & Sales Growth Solution
Your website acts as a marketing powerhouse, centralizing your digital marketing efforts from SEO to social media. It’s a cost-effective tool that helps convert visitors into customers, whether through an online store for products or lead capture for services, fueling your business growth. A professional website design is a vital part of your strategy for conversions and attracting paying customers.
Hostopia’s Online Presence Builder, available through our trusted partners, allows small business owners to get online fast, and with its built-in AI features, the possibilities are endless.
Our featured tool offers a unique AI Writing Assistant to help you refine your content to sound more professional and therefore optimizes your brand. It can also personalize your content by adding details and checking for spelling mistakes.
Learn more about Hostopia’s services and schedule a free consultation by sending an email to learnmore@hostopia.com
3. Business Websites Streamline Customer Interaction & Grow with You
Serving as the central hub for all business information, your website simplifies customer inquiries and interactions. It’s adaptable to your business’s evolving needs, ensuring you remain relevant and competitive in a fast-paced digital landscape.
4. A Website Offers a Competitive Edge
A well-made website provides a distinct competitive advantage, differentiating you, the small business owner, from those who rely solely on social media. Built-in analytics tools empower you to make informed decisions, driving your business forward in today’s competitive market.
Why Do Small Businesses Hesitate to Build a Website?
Technical jargon and the fear of clicking something wrong with irreversible results are the most significant factors that repel small business owners from going online. However, there are several factors involved.
1. Lack of Technical Knowledge
The good news is that technology has evolved, and website-building platforms like WordPress or Hostopia’s Online Presence Builder make the process much simpler than it used to be. These platforms provide drag-and-drop features, meaning you don’t need to know a single line of code to build a professional-looking website in a matter of minutes.
For some, the challenge is not about managing a website but simply figuring out how to start. Which domain name should they choose? What hosting plan is the best? These questions can feel intimidating, but taking that first step is the biggest leap forward. Business owners can seek guidance through online tutorials, professional services, or step-by-step website-building guides.
2. Perception of High Costs
One of the most common reasons small businesses hesitate to build a website is the assumption that it’s too expensive. Many assume they need to invest thousands of dollars in web development, but that’s not true, especially for small companies and local businesses trying to pivot into the online world.
While custom-built websites can be pricey, affordable alternatives exist. Small businesses can easily create a functional and visually appealing website using website builders for a fraction of the cost.
3. Businesses Low on Time
Another big concern for small business owners is the time it takes to create and manage a website.
Running a business is time-consuming, and adding website management into the mix can feel like too much. However, breaking the process down into smaller, yet manageable, steps can make it far less overwhelming. For example, setting aside a couple of hours each week to work on the website can get it up and running in no time.
For those who genuinely don’t have the time, hiring freelancers is another great option. But for people who need a professional design with a minimal amount of money, Hostopia’s Online Presence Builder makes the process straightforward. Additionally, modern features like AI writing allow you to rewrite sections of your website with professional and error-free results.
4. Belief That Social Media Is Enough
Many small businesses believe that having a Facebook or Instagram page is enough to build a strong online presence. However, small business websites also play a huge role in establishing an online presence and connecting with potential customers.
While social media is great for posting business news, relying solely on this platform has significant limitations. Social media platforms change their algorithms often, and businesses can lose visibility overnight. On the other hand, a full-fledged website provides absolute control over content and design, making it a more permanent solution for an online presence. Maximizing your SEO optimization and asking for reviews online can also bring your business website further up the order of search results.
The best approach is to use both a website and a social media platform together. Social media is great for engaging with customers, posting giveaways and news, but a website will always serve as a home base for any important business information, including your product catalog, list of services, etc.
With both, every business can maximize its reach and ensure it’s accessible to potential customers across different platforms.
5. The Small Business is Really Small
Sometimes, most business owners think they’re too small or too new to build a website. While social media platforms are here to help small businesses get found online fast, a website will also boost their search visibility and credibility, targeting the broader audience of search engines.
Business owners should always bet on professional web design like Hostopia’s Online Presence Builder to start their journey and attract more potential customers online.
6. Uncertainty About Website Benefits
When potential customers search online for a service or product, a business without a website may seem less legitimate. Having a website helps build trust with customers, providing essential details about the business, such as contact information, reviews, and services offered.
One common misconception about websites is the benefits they bring to the table.
Websites aren’t just about credibility—they’re also powerful tools for sales and lead generation. For businesses that rely on eCommerce, having an online store is a big part of increasing sales. Even service-based businesses can generate website leads by providing contact forms, subscription offers, and downloadable resources.
7. Fear of Maintenance & Updates
Some small business owners worry about maintaining a website, fearing it will require constant updates and troubleshooting. An update can add or break specific elements of a website, so many small business owners prefer not to rely on themselves when an update comes.
However, website platforms today offer automated maintenance tools, making the process simpler than ever. From software updates to security checks, there are services designed to handle these tasks automatically.
Automating tasks like backups, content updates, and even SEO audits can save a lot of time. Keeping a website updated, mobile-friendly, and up-to-date is a good strategy, especially when it comes to security and user experience, but regular maintenance doesn’t have to be a hassle.
8. Myths About SEO Being Too Difficult
Many businesses believe that SEO (search engine optimization) is too complicated or expensive to implement. The truth is that SEO basics can be learned and applied by anyone. Beginner-friendly tools like Google Analytics, Bing Webmaster Tools, Semrush, and hundreds of others offer step-by-step guides to improving website visibility on search engines.
When small businesses are ready to scale their SEO efforts, they can hire professionals to handle the more complex tasks. Hiring SEO experts can be particularly useful when dealing with competitive industries, ensuring the business ranks higher on search engine results pages (SERPs).
Hostopia’s Practical Tips to Get Every Small Business Started
At this stage, working with some solid tools and utilizing strategies that work towards building your brand is highly recommended to reach your goals. For that reason, we recommend the following:
- Working with website builders: Many builders now incorporate AI capabilities that enhance content creation and design, and so does Hostopia’s Online Presence Builder (OPB).
- Hiring freelancers to help smaller web designers get found online: Whether it’s hiring professional help in the form of a small freelance team or a single web designer, it ensures you’ll get your website completed much faster than doing it on your own.
- Finding the time to learn a website builder in order to build the website yourself: Taking your time to learn a CMS, or a tool like Hostopia Online Presence Builder, is also an important tactic if you can invest the time for it.
- Registering your domain name to get ahead of the competition: Staying ahead of the curve is ensuring your business website has a proper name. Pre-ordering your domain name is an excellent way of staying ahead of competitors that might emerge carrying your idea or features.
Conclusion
For many small business owners, the idea of creating a website can appear costly and feel like a mountain to climb. Our partners have access to affordable and feature-rich website-building solutions like Online Presence Builder that leverage AI technology, hundreds of user-friendly templates, and logo design services. These solutions effectively lower the barrier preventing your business from getting online.
Our tools make it possible to expand your reach, improve credibility, and grow your customer base with a professional online presence.
Don’t let fear hold you back: Learn more about Hostopia’s services and schedule a free consultation today. Contact us at our toll-free number, 1-800-322-9438, or email us at learnmore@hostopia.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to hire a web designer for my business website?
No, many user-friendly platforms like Hostopia’s Online Presence Builder make it easy to build a website without hiring a professional.
How much does it cost to maintain a website?
Website maintenance can range from a few dollars a month for basic hosting to more for premium services and features.
How can I make sure my website is user-friendly?
To ensure a smooth user experience, use simple navigation, clear calls to action, and responsive design.
What are the risks of only relying on social media for my online presence?
You risk losing visibility when algorithms change, or accounts get suspended. A website gives you more control.
Is SEO really that important for small businesses?
Yes, SEO helps small businesses rank higher on search engines, bringing in more organic traffic and potential customers.
