Blog post

Small Offline Businesses – Do They Really Need A Website?

Many small businesses now run entirely online selling products and services to customers across the globe. However, for businesses such as cafés and crèches that will always operate offline, is a website really necessary? The answer is that websites are not only becoming vital to maintain your business, but they also offer new opportunities for growth.

Changing Sources of Information

The sheer ease that the internet has brought to gathering information is making it an often-used tool by people from all walks of life. Even the most technophobic people know how to do a Google search. With smartphones making web access on the go a reality, this use of the internet for information seeking is only going to grow. Your regular customers are likely to turn to the internet if they want to find out your phone number or opening hours, or to look for your website address if they want to recommend you to a friend. If you lack a website you are simply making it more difficult for them, increasing the chances they will switch to your competition.

Changing Uses of Information

The easy availability of information that the internet has brought is also bringing changes in how people use information. People are making increasing use of research to both find out what their options are and narrow down their choices before they ever make contact with a business. People are no longer satisfied with calling your business or visiting your premises to enquire about your services and so on. They expect to be able to access that information as and when they please. If you can only inform potential customers of what you offer during your business hours you are missing out on a large section of potential business.

Added Legitimacy

As a business owner you already know just how important perception is to the success of your business. With websites now so common and expected, not having one is considered to be an automatic black mark by some consumers. Some people assume that a business without a website cannot have been in business for very long, while others see them as hopelessly old-fashioned – not the kind of impression that you will wish to give!

It is important to realize that a website is not simply something that you need to have to keep your business steady. It can also be used to grow your business, as it offers new marketing opportunities, service options and better ways to serve your customers. A better question than whether or not you need a website is exactly how you can use the opportunities that a website brings.