Each year, the importance of having a strong web presence continues to grow. More and more people are turning to the internet to discover a new business, get their questions answered, buy a new product, learn about local businesses, and so much more. In this digital day and age, using the internet is how society discovers and learns about almost anything; potentially even your business.
So, why is having a web presence so important? To answer this, it’s important to understand what web presence is. Web presence is any way your business is represented on the internet. The company website, its social media pages, online advertisements, even the way customers talk about you on Twitter, are all elements of web presence. Why is this so important? Here are a few reasons why:
Exposure
When a business has a strong web presence, that business is more likely to be discovered by potential customers. According to a 2016 study, 46% of small businesses did not have a website for their company. That’s a lot! According to another study in 2016, it was reported that 97% of consumers used the internet to find a local business. That means that 46 out of 100 small businesses were missing out on a very high chance of being discovered by potential customers! You want your business to be included in that chance of being discovered by the 97% of customers who use the internet to find local businesses.
A Chance to Introduce Yourself
Having a web presence means that your business gets to introduce itself to prospective customers. This allows the potential customers to learn more about you, as well as the products or services you may be providing. It helps customers decide why they should choose your business over the competition. Also, for many of your potential customers, your web presence will serve as the primary channel for interaction. It will be your first impression and possibly your only interaction. For these customers, and their numbers are growing exponentially, it won’t matter what your business truly has to offer – if its not on your website, it’s not a part of your business.
Advertise Your Product or Service
Having a web presence means you can advertise your products or services to prospective customers. Customers can quickly find what products or services your business offers and decide whether or not it suits their needs. The stronger your web presence, the more likely they are to discover and choose your business.
Engage with Customers
Having a website and social media pages allows your business to promote communication and interaction with your potential and current customers. This allows customers to feel like their questions, concerns, comments, complaints, compliments, and everything in between are being heard. The more they feel they are being heard, the higher customer satisfaction will be. The more you get people talking about your product or service, the more business you will draw in. A web presence allows the business to interact and engage with its customers at all times, and an engaging web presence gives credibility in the eyes of the consumer.
As you can see, these are just a few reasons why having a web presence will benefit you and your business. Web presence is the key to gaining a wider exposure to potential customers. Exposure is everything when it comes to getting your name out there. It can make or break your business, so be sure to take advantage of having a web presence. Make sure you are in that 54% being exposed to that 97% of internet users!
