Fun fact of the day: Did you know that 80% of people now Google a company BEFORE they decide to purchase from them? Today’s customers want to see more than a pretty social media feed to make a buying decision. They need to see customer reviews, a website that looks legit, and one that probably answers a few lingering questions for them before making that final purchase.

In today’s world, not having a website is a fate far worse than death. It means you’re invisible.

But, I know that you are smarter than that! You are committed to growing your business —on and off— social media. So let’s dive into the five reasons you need a website, in addition to, a killer social media presence.

REASON #1: YOUR CUSTOMERS EXPECT IT

Like I mentioned above, over 80% of customers START their buying decision with a Google search. If they can’t find your

business, it is going to set off serious alarm bells in their head. In the interior design and home building market, a lot of business is done through word of mouth and so customers are basically just wanting something to confirm “OK, they are legit. I should go ahead and meet with them.” If you don’t have a website, or have a terrible one, you just lost a customer that you probably never even realized was considering you. How much business are you losing by not having a website or having a low quality one that doesn’t show you off in the best light?

REASON #2: YOU CAN CHARGE MORE WHEN YOU LOOK LEGIT ONLINE

Like it or not, perception and status matter greatly in business. When you have a website that looks amazing, does a great job of selling your services, and creates a seamless customer experience, people won’t EXPECT you to be the lowest price. You look expensive, you create a wonderful experience, they know they have to pay for that. On the other hand, if your website looks straight out of Internet Explorer and looks like a general lack of care went into it, customers also expect you to charge less. You don’t look like you take yourself seriously, so they won’t either.

REASON #3: YOU HAVE OWNERSHIP OF YOUR WEBSITE

If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that the unexpected can happen at anytime. The major problem with social media is that you don’t have full control over the platforms. You can be kicked off, the algorithms can change, you can lose your followers, or any number of unexpected things could happen. This is where the true value of having a website comes into play. A website is truly a long-term asset for your business. Over time, it can help lead to predictable growth through SEO and email marketing. You also have ownership over your asset, your list, and your growth. It is basically your business hub!

REASON #4: YOUR WEBSITE CAN HELP QUALIFY PROSPECTS

If you’ve run a business for any length of time, you know that one of the downsides is sifting through prospects to find the DREAM clients. You definitely don’t want to work with everyone. A well strategized and designed website, like we specialize in here at Sarah Rose Inc., is designed to attract the right kind of people and repel the wrong kind of people you don’t want to work with. Having a well crafted website will actually save you a ton of time (and energy) and bring back joy to your life!

REASON #5: YOU CAN BETTER COMPETE WITH INDUSTRY GIANTS

The internet has changed the game for business. Now you have the same access and advantage as the big guys to reach the same audience. But you’ll need a website to drive traffic to to actually compete. You can get traffic using blog posts, Google ads, Facebook ads, Pinterest, email marketing, and more. All these can be set up using your website as the “home base”, giving you an opportunity never before seen in history to compete and grow your business along with industry giants.