Whether you’re a new business, established company, or haven’t yet launched your brand, you may be wondering, “Do I need a business website?” With easy-to-use platforms like Facebook and Etsy, some business owners think they can get by without a company-specific website. And while that may work for a short while, there comes a time when investing in a business website is essential to grow your business and expand your reach. Learn the five signs it’s time to invest in a business website and how to create a site you and your target audience will love.

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Can You Run a Business Without a Website? 

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Yes, you can run a business without a website. However, we don’t suggest it. The main reason a business owner might ask, “Do I need a website?” is due to a lack of knowledge, time, or money. If you are unsure how to get started or don’t have the time or expertise to create a website worth visiting, it can be hard to become motivated to establish your online presence.

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While you can run a business without a website, you’d be missing out on the many benefits a professional site brings to your brand. A website increases a brand’s credibility, visibility, and functionality. Chances are, other companies are providing a similar service or product as you. Having a branded website is one way to distinguish your company and compete in your industry, showing yourself as a legitimate, credible business. 

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Your website also increases your brand’s visibility. If you optimize your site for SEO (search engine optimization), it can rank on Google and other search engines, driving organic traffic to your website, increasing views, leads, and sales. Lastly, a website enables you to share information, sell products, and get in touch with your audience in many ways. So while you can run a business without a website, in our opinion, the answer to the question, “Do I need a website?” is a resounding, “Yes!”

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5 Signs It's Time to Invest in a Business Website

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Whether you’ve launched your business without a website or selected a free, generic site as a starting point, at some point, it’ll be time to invest in a professional business website. How do you know if you’re at that point? Here are five signs.

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1. Your Competition Has a Website

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If your competition has a business website and you don’t, you are losing money. It’s that simple. A website makes a company more accessible, and if it is easier for your target audience to find, learn about, and choose your competition, that’s what they’re going to do. However, even if your competition doesn’t have a website, there’s still a reason for you to get one: to become more accessible to your customers or clients, so it’s easy for them to choose you over your competition. With strong branding and design, your website can make you stand out from the crowd.

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2. You Want to Reach a Wider Audience

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Instagram has 1 billion monthly active users. Facebook has 2.9 billion. These are staggering numbers, but not as staggering as Google statistics. Google processes 3.5 billion searches per day–100 billion each month. So while social media platforms are a great way to build brand awareness, you need a business website to reach a wider audience. Not only that, but you need a website that is optimized for SEO to help you rank on Google and reach people who are searching for products and services like yours.

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3. Your Audience is Searching for You Online 

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Because people generate 3.5 billion Google searches per day, there’s a really good chance that many are searching for companies like yours. Unfortunately, they’ll have a hard time finding you, engaging with your brand, and becoming a customer or client if you don’t have a business website. Just as a business website helps you reach a wider audience, it will also bring that wider audience directly to your virtual doorstep.

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4. You Have a Website but Don’t Like It

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Maybe you got a free website from WordPress or Squarespace when you first launched your business, but you don’t like it and, therefore, don’t use it. This happens often. Business owners know the importance of having a website, so they create one that works well enough… at least at first. Sooner or later, you realize the website is too generic or doesn’t represent you or your brand well. Having a website that you don’t like and don’t use because you aren’t confident in the way it represents your brand is just as bad as not having one at all. If you’re in this situation, it’s time for a business rebrand and a new website design. 

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5. You’ve Been in Business Over a Year 

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Lastly, if you’ve been in business for over a year and don’t yet have a business website (or one that you love), it’s time to take the step and invest. After one year in business, you typically have a good idea of what you offer and how you want to present yourself to the online world. Now it’s time to establish your brand identity to attract your dream customers and clients and stand out among your competitors. By investing in branding and website design, you can transform your online presence and take your business to the next level.

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What to Do When It’s Time to Invest in a Business Website

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Is it time? Are you ready to nail down your brand and have a website you’re proud of that attracts your target audience and increases leads and sales? If so, I would love to work with you! My business is all about helping your business grow and succeed through strategic, creative, and empowered design. Let’s chat if you’re ready to learn more about my services!