A strong online presence is essential for any small business. Social media might be good for connecting with customers, but relying on it can limit your growth and visibility. According to over 70% of people research a company online before they make a purchase or even visit in person1, and if your business doesn’t have a website, you are missing out on customers. Your online presence is your voice in the digital landscape. Without it you are reliant on 3rd party manipulators and dubious algorithms designed to sell YOU clicks- not your products and services to customers. If you don’t have one, or have little control over yours, you are limiting your business potential. For long-term success you need your own website.
Social media platforms are powerful marketing tools, but relying on them alone limits your control over your brand’s message and reach. Algorithm changes can drastically reduce your visibility, as Facebook posts now reach just 5.2% of followers on average2. Over time these platforms may change the way users interact with your brand. Twitter (now X) for example, now completely blocks non-account holders from viewing tweets. If you use Twitter as your main business presence your message is missing over 75% of people actively engaged on social media.3 Additionally, social platforms offer limited customization options, making it hard to showcase your brand’s unique identity. The days of custom Myspace pages are long gone and increasingly we are being shoehorned into placating algorithms rather than connecting with customers. What’s good for Instagram engagement may not always be what is good for your brand. With your own website you can curate your content any way you see fit. And you will own all of it without having to pay lip service to another company to do so (looking at you Zuckerberg).
Having your own website gives you full control of your brand’s story, appearance, and functionality, which can directly lead to greater credibility. In fact, 75% of consumers admit to judging a business’s credibility based on its website.4 Having a professionally designed website sets you apart from the competition and elevates your brand, which will in turn draw in more customers as they will prefer you to others. Moreover, with nearly half of all Google searches focused on local businesses5, having an optimized site ensures you can capture this traffic and turn it into real customers and not other social media ad buyers. If your listing pops up on a map but you have nothing but a phone number or a Facebook page, you are missing out on customers. Period. With your own website you don’t need to rely on Yelp images for your bar or restaurant, you don’t need a personal account on Meta, and you don’t need to spend hours blocking content on Twitter. You can build out your set to serve your business so you can better serve your customers. No more pay-to-play rating systems or shady reviewers and less janky spam from dot-ru accounts.
While social media is great for building awareness, a website helps convert that awareness into action. Sharing content can be fun and will drive engagement, but that doesn’t automatically drive sales. With 93% of online experiences starting with a search engine6, it’s crucial to have a website that serves as the final destination for inquiries, purchases, or booking services. These features can be custom built to better serve your business needs and the needs of your customers. With social media you have severe restrictions on features available to your company, or they may come at exorbitant costs from huge firms like Meta and Alphabet. Do they have your business’ best interest in mind, or are you just another screen name in a sea of billions of users? Social media is a perfect way to engage with an audience, but your website is the best way for customers to engage with you. Your company’s website should be the foundation of your web presence, with social media channels complementing that presence when appropriate.
As a web designer with years of experience, I specialize in building quick and simple websites tailored to your small business needs. I offer affordable pricing, ongoing support, and a seamless, stress-free process—everything your business needs to grow online. With over a decade of experience working with reputable brands, both large and small, I offer comprehensive web design services to meet the needs of small and local companies with an emphasis on helpful service and clean design. Beyond your basic web design I can help you with maintenance, updates, moderation, content creation, and more. I offer a personalized approach to your company’s web presence at a fraction of the cost of bloated-edge corporate design firms or the low-ball, low-quality you find on Fiverr. With me you get professional service at a competitive price.
Ready to take your business to the next level with a professional website? Let’s chat! Whether you need a brand-new site or a revamp, I’m here to help. Reach out for a consultation or quote today, and let’s get your small business online and thriving.