Even after your small business has closed for the day, your website is still working hard to bring more customers through your door. Regardless of industry, most potential customers and partners are looking at your website before they engage with your product or service, making it an important tool for success.
As marketing professionals, we know that small business owners are busy. With never-ending task lists and plenty of responsibilities, taking time to upgrade your website becomes a low priority. However, simply creating a website and never touching it again won’t produce the results you need. To gain competitive advantage in your industry, you should be constantly innovating your website to build your online presence.
If it’s been a while since you last assessed your website, here are four important reasons to consider innovating now:
- Your website is your best marketing tool
Let’s face the facts: people judge you based on your website design, so it should be a direct reflection of what you’re capable of. Outdated sites with broken links, low-quality images and an unintuitive interface will make you seem sketchy and cause people to stray away from your business.
Incorporating current, relevant content, fresh designs and eye-catching visuals will keep old customers intrigued and bring new customers in. The right on-site optimization and SEO service will boost your visibility and help generate the leads you need.
- Website upgrades improve how you do business
Your website should be a full digital representation of who you are and what you offer. The innovations you make to it can serve as the catalyst you need to assess where your business currently stands. Are you actually doing the things you say you do? Are you showing why potential customers should work with you? Every time you redesign your website — whether the changes are big or small — you’re giving yourself an opportunity to reflect, improve and share the most accurate depiction of who you are with the world.
- An updated website can bring new advantages to customers
Innovations and updated technology come with their own set of perks, and it’s no secret that frustrating online experiences leave users unwilling to work with businesses again. Monitoring the needs of those who visit your site will show you how you can improve their user experience when interacting with your product or service.
For example, allowing customers to stay logged in on your site after exiting or making the payment process simpler are two website innovations that drastically improve how customers navigate your business online. Additionally, if your website is not optimized for mobile phones, you will lose even more potential customers who shop exclusively with their smartphones.
- Your website needs to evolve with your brand
We know how crucial growth is for the long-term survival of a small business. Evolving your brand allows you better respond to market demand, increase your market share and boost your credibility. As your small business continues to grow, your website should too. Sometimes small businesses go through rebrands as they expand, so any messaging or visual identity changes should be reflected on your website.
Ready to make the most out of your online efforts?
There are certain aspects of a business that are essential for success and having a quality, modern website is one of them. As a small business, we understand that every dollar matters. Even if you’re stretching your available budget, setting a little bit of money aside to invest in your website will benefit you in the long run.
At Collective Alternative, we believe in Making Business Personal by creating marketing solutions that aren’t one-size-fits all. If you are interested in innovating your website but aren’t sure where to start, our team can help strategically create and implement a website redesign into your marketing strategy that aligns with your vision and goals. Schedule a free, no obligation strategy session with us today!