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In today's world, where digital technology and the Internet have a major influence on the way we live and work, it is shocking to learn that few small business owners are willing to invest in creating a website.
In fact, the numbers don’t lie: it’s hard to believe that only 46% of small france email list businesses have a website. This statistic is confusing, especially when it’s common knowledge that people spend 6 hours a day on the Internet.
Based on the results of a recent survey, 41% of small business owners reported that they do not think they need a website, revealing that they are unaware of the benefits of digital marketing .
But what this actually means is that they probably don’t know the benefits of having a website to promote their small business. That’s why today we’ve put together an article with the main benefits of a website for small businesses, as well as pointing out the fundamental elements that should be included in it.
Top Benefits of a Small Business Website
There are several Digital Communication instruments that can be put at the service of small businesses, such as an institutional website, a blog, an e-commerce store, banners, pop-ups, emails and conversational chats.
So, if there are so many resources available, why should small business owners invest in a website?
Firstly, because it will be an effective tool for boosting business and allowing you to reach customers in your region . Having a website means being found more easily and, therefore, increasing contacts/sales. For this to happen, you must be careful when choosing the domain where you will present your website. To learn more about this, see the article on Top Level Domain for your website .
Another very important aspect is that the simple existence of a website improves the commercial credibility of the company, while at the same time promoting its online presence.
In this way, the business can create a strong relationship with its market, and it has been proven that having a website is an efficient way to promote your business, due to the increase in reputation and authority.
It is also essential to understand that when a businessperson creates a website, they are creating a tool for generating sales, a virtual showcase that showcases their work and even allows them to monitor their business in real time, professionalizing their brand.
Now that you understand the advantages, let's also highlight the fundamental elements that a small business website should contain.
Fundamental elements of an SME website
Quality images
Having good quality images is essential to create a positive impact on your product/service. Small business owners who invest in a website should be careful with the text-to-image ratio.
There are excellent image banks (both free and paid) that can help you achieve this goal. Don't forget to have an attractive and effective logo. How much should your logo cost? It depends, there are many options on the Internet.
Simple Navigation
Navigation should be intuitive, providing information about products and services in just 3 clicks. Menus should have between 5 and 10 items at most, and navigation aids (e.g. breadcrumbs) should always be integrated into all pages.
About Us Page
The simple existence of a page dedicated to the company's mission is very important to explain what the company does and who the business is for. In this case, it is essential to keep the page simple: give enough information for the visitor to be interested, but not bored. This page can and should be used to humanize the brand, including photos of the team or facilities.
Call-to-action (CTA)
Determining what the website should do or what action it should trigger is another fundamental task for anyone who wants to be successful with a website. Calls-to-action, which are calls for the user to take action, should be placed in visible areas and close to related items.
In terms of color, they should contrast with the website image and say exactly what they do: “Buy now”, “Download”, “Check here” are just a few examples.
Research Field
A website without a search option is not a good idea. This search field should be easy to access and use. It is usually in the top right corner, as this is the most popular area, so it is the easiest and most expected place for the user to find it. Of course, it should be large enough to allow for common website terms.
Pay Attention to the Footer
In the footer area, non-priority information should be placed, but it should be of interest to the company/business.
It may include repetition of information used elsewhere, but it usually includes links to the site map, contact information, social networks, terms of use and privacy policy. Whatever the focus, the information in this area should be useful and simple, i.e. easy to use.
Responsive Website
Website adaptability to different mobile devices (tablets and smartphones) is crucial nowadays. Access to the web from these mobile devices is increasing, so the presentation and usability of a website on a tablet or smartphone is now just as important as on a desktop.
To ensure that everything is in order, the website owner must carry out multiple adaptability tests on the different platforms, without forgetting that Google penalizes all websites that are not responsive in the ranking.
