In this day and age, it’s more important than ever for small businesses to have a website and develop a robust online presence. While social media is undoubtedly effective for reaching and engaging new audiences, a well-designed website tailored to your brand can help you achieve your long-term goals. In this blog post, we’ll explain the importance of websites for small businesses and where to find the best web development agency to bring your vision to life. 

Why Do I Need a Website and Not Just Social Media? 

Since social media accounts are free to create, easy to manage, and can generate new leads, many business owners may think it’s a one-stop shop for their digital marketing efforts. However, websites are a foundation to enhance the effectiveness of digital strategies like social media marketing, email marketing, and more. 

When people click on your social media, they should be directed to a website that provides opportunities to take action. A website linked to your social media offers the ability to collect valuable customer data and entice them to learn more about your business. Think of social media as the attention grabber and a website as the closer. 

5 Reasons Why Small Businesses Need Websites 

A dynamic online presence in today’s digital world is essential for businesses of all sizes and can make or break your success. A well-designed website is key to unlocking new opportunities and creating a unique experience to serve your customers better. 

Builds trust and credibility 

Establishing trust with your audience is essential regardless of your business’s size or industry. Modern consumers are more skeptical than ever, and not having a website for your business is highly suspicious. 

Anyone can create a social media profile and start posting, but businesses that have taken the necessary steps of buying a domain, adding relevant content and information about their business, and designing a unique website for their brand give users peace of mind that they are dealing with a legitimate company. If people search for your brand only to find your primary source of information is a Facebook or LinkedIn post, they’ll feel like they’ve hit a dead end. 

Ranking and visibility 

A professional website for your small business gives it a chance to rank on search engines. Social media profiles don’t rank nearly as well as a website built with SEO best practices in mind, meaning if you’re only using social media, you’re missing out on organic traffic. 

When searching on Google or other major search engines, every result is typically a page on a website. The right keywords, links, and descriptions on your website give it the SEO it needs to increase visibility. 

As Google is the one source for people to find information, optimizing your website for SEO allows people to find you and can hinge on the success of your business. You can link your social media posts to your website, offering a place for your audience to go if they want to learn more about your company. The links to your social profile boost your website’s rankings as well, complementing each other to attract new visitors and convert them to loyal customers. 

Control and creative freedom 

Your social media efforts are limited by the platform you’re using. You’re subject to ever-changing rules and regulations that limit your ability to market and convey your brand’s message to your audience. Having a website allows you to control the design and content, giving you an advantage over social media platforms that can change their algorithms or policies anytime. 

Building a website enables total creative freedom. You can break free from conventional restrictions and engage users in unique ways. Working with an accredited web development agency like Agency Partner Interactive allows you to collaborate with world-class web designers to create a custom website completely aligned with your brand and tailored to your users’ expectations. 

A website is a reflection of your business 

When people search for your business, your website is typically the first thing they come across. Make the best first impression with a professional, functional, and engaging site that invites them to explore more of what you offer. Small businesses should utilize their website to reach their client base and be able to react and communicate with current and prospective customers. A poorly designed website (or no website at all) conveys to modern consumers that you may not be a reliable or trustworthy company. 

Websites enable business growth 

Growth-focused small businesses wanting to expand their market and attract new customers can benefit from having a website. While social media offers a way to reach new customers, websites can provide: 

• More information about your brand
• Give customers access to your business location 
• Contact forms
• A platform to sell your products or services online

Getting a website is the first step to enhancing your online presence and putting your brand in an environment where it can thrive. Promote your products, build credibility, and gain a competitive edge. If you’re not on the internet, people won’t be able to find you, and they’ll go somewhere else. 

Website vs Social Media 

Social media is an effective tool for reaching customers and engaging with them more personally. However, you’ll need a website if you’re looking to build and maintain a robust online presence. Websites serve as the foundation for other digital marketing efforts for small businesses and offer benefits that greatly outweigh having just a social media profile. To stay ahead of your competitors and market your brand to new audiences, you’ll need to have both working together to achieve your long-term goals. 

Small Business Web Development Agency 

Agency Partner Interactive is a full-service digital agency that provides award-winning web design solutions and digital marketing services to small businesses. We work to understand your business drivers before leveraging bespoke technology and internet marketing expertise to help brands achieve their full potential. 

Working with a dedicated digital marketing agency is one of the best ways to take your small business to the next level. Starting with a website kickoff meeting, our expert web designers collaborate with you to create a custom web solution aligned with your goals, objectives, and budget. Then, our digital marketing strategists develop interconnected social media marketing, content marketing, and SEO strategies to optimize and maintain your online presence constantly. Get in touch to receive your free personalized proposal today!