Why create a website? Duh?!
In this day and age, need I explain why? From big brands like Ford, Beyonce, and Sony, to small businesses and personal brands like Gary Sheng, Entia Accounting Firm, and Halasan Dental Clinic, more and more brands, personalities, and small businesses are claiming their spot in the digital world.
Even bouncing cats, this man, and a press button for saying "Nooooo!" have their respective webpages. Then how come you haven't marked your virtual territory yet?
I'm not saying you get a website to join the bandwagon. If you have a business, here are top 6 reasons why you should create a website.
Why Create a Website
Stake your name or brand out in the digital space
It's so easy to create a website. (But make no mistake, it's not that simple to create and maintain an effective website). Anyone can make a website using any domain name as long as that name is still not taken - even your name... or your brand if it has not been trademarked.
When your business grows and your brand becomes famous, and you don't move quick, someone might make a website using your name or brand.
Case in point is Bo Sanchez, well-respected preacher, entrepreneur, and mentor for financial literacy. He has also become a remarkable brand. His talks, blogs and sites, newsletters, books, webinars & seminars, YouTube videos, etc., and good works have established his brand.
Not so long ago, a shrewd person who may have anticipated this, bought the domain bosanchez.com. And when Bro. Bo decided to make his website and use his name as his website domain name, lo and behold, bosanchez.com was no longer available. Someone had already taken it and is selling it for a significant price tag.
It's either he pays the hefty price, choose another domain name, or change the top level domain. He opted for the latter, creating the website bosanchez.ph.
So while no one has thought of taking your name or brand yet, mark your territory to keep "name snatchers" out.
Online presence
Imagine this. In 2018, the number of internet users in the Philippines ballooned to almost 70 million. This is more than half of the country's total population. But take note, this is pre-Covid-19 era.
Imagine how many more Filipinos are going digital while we are quarantined for a number of months in our homes. And with the new normal, going digital is a no-brainer.
People are now ditching the exchange of bills and coins in favor of swiping cards and scanning digital wallets, like GCash and PayMaya.
People are encouraged to work at home. With this set-up, how are business meetings conducted? Teams meet online using Zoom and other virtual meeting solutions.
Many products and services are now available online. Ecommerce in the country has exploded, even before the debilitating pandemic, paving the way for online shopping into the hearts, habits and pockets of Filipinos.
Even the mere task of hailing a cab has gone digital!
I could go on and on about what service, product, or company has gone digital. But one thing's clear, we are going digital. That means your business should also have an online presence or risk being buried in oblivion.
Branding & digital marketing
So, let's assume you now have created a website. You have now staked your claim to your name or brand. You are now digitally present. Now what?
Your online presence shouldn't be a mere act of showing up. You also have to dress up. Because you want to be seen and heard. Why bother showing up to the cyber party when you're just planning to become a digital wallflower?
So you want to dress sharp and sound sharp, or whatever personality you may have for your brand.
You don't dress up just to impress. You dress up to court your prospects. You would want to get their number (actually, their email addresses). You woo them with gifts (in the form of lead magnets) and love letters (email marketing), until you get their "Yes!" That's when they convert (when they buy from you, attend your webinar, download your ebook, or do something that you ask them to do.)
This is digital marketing. It's an immense subject matter that calls for its own blog post, or its own blog even.
Be there when your customers and prospects have a question
This is related to online presence and branding.
Before making a purchase, people now seek the advice of Mr. Google about "cheap flights to japan," "what is the best vitamin c," or "iphone 11 vs iphone 11 pro."
Heck, people even ask Google weird and funny questions like, "why I always fart," "why do adults wet the bed," and "why is my goldfish turning black."
You can answer the first question if your product is an anti-flatulence agent. Answer the second question if yours is an adult diaper brand. Reply to the third question if you run a pet store.
I don't mean you have to keep watch online for any questions that may be raised related to your product. What I mean is that you can do keyword research so that you can create content that answers questions that your niche is asking. So that when they hit the search button, your website comes on top of the search page provided you implement good SEO practices. We will talk about SEO on another day.
When you keep answering their questions or impress them by answering even just one of their questions with valuable substantial content, then you are able to gain their trust. This is how you establish your authority in your niche - providing information that are useful to your target market.
When you do this, you can convert prospects into customers. If you do more, you can convert customers into raving fans who will promote your brand for free (by sharing their good experience with you on Facebook, Twitter, word-of-mouth, etc.). This is one full sales cycle - another topic for another day.
Find existing and potential customers
Your online presence does not just allow you to be seen and heard. Your customers and prospects can also interact with you using your website's contact page, chat apps, comments section of blog posts, social media links, etc.
You can get their feedback about your products or services and listen to problems they may be having which you can turn into opportunities to serve them better. This is the new form of market research.
You can address them wherever they are in the world. They can also find you from various locations in the world via search engines.
Branch out your business online where your market could be the whole wide world
Your small business may not involve physical products that you can vend online, accept orders, and have someone deliver them to your customers' homes just like what online sellers now do in online stores.
Your business may be in the realm of providing services where face-to-face interaction is the norm, such as providing medical advice as a doctor, providing workout training as a personal trainor, or providing financial advice as a financial advisor.
Remember, that was the norm. But we now have a new normal, thanks to Covid-19.
Even prior to the pandemic, small businesses and professionals providing services have already started using the digital world as their new platform in providing services to their clients. We're seeing personal trainors, online business coach, lawyers, and several other service providers and professionals conducting their business online.
When you stay withing your brick-and-mortar store or office, you are geographically limiting your business. But when your business goes online, you can get clients from anywhere in the world, albeit, depending on your services and the regulations of your profession.
Now that you have six reasons why create a website for your small business or personal brand, go ahead and register that domain name before someone else does.
Wait, not so fast!
You may also be wondering if in lieu of a website, why not just establish your online presence using a Facebook page.
Well you can but there are things you can do in your website that you can't do in Facebook. Find out more about these in this post: The Facebook Page vs Website Face-off.
Also, when you've decided to take your business online, you may want to read this.