In today’s technology-driven world, any successful business requires a website. Online commerce is huge, with Australians spending $28.6 billion on online shopping in 2018. The purpose of starting a business website can be to start a blog, sell goods and services online or host an online marketplace. In this article, we will list the main advantages of having a website for your business.
Advertising is easier
Businesses may find it harder to effectively advertise itself to the public through conventional means. This includes methods such as distribution of pamphlets or billboards. Whilst the most trusted form of advertising remains a family or friend recommendation, online advertising spreads your name further. A website continues to draw in potential customers using the internet. Social media websites offer simple and low-cost methods of promoting your business to consumers. A business website also allows you to advertise and expand your market internationally.Consumers want more information
If your business does not provide sale of goods, that is fine, as many business websites exist just to provide information. This allows you to list and promote your services and also to answer customer questions. Many customers will want to know about a business before purchasing anything. Furthermore, a popular method for consumers to research businesses is by reading customer reviews. Their impressions are affected by the reviews they find. ‘Yelp’, a popular customer review service, has an average of 178 million visitors monthly. The emergence of Yelp shows the high demand for online customer reviews. It is advantageous to have a site where customers can post reviews of your business. It lets you know where you should improve, and creates a better experience for new and returning customers.Ease of Access
An online website for sale of services or products increases customer’s accessibility to purchase goods. By removing the customer’s need to visit a store location, this sale of goods can occur on an international scale. A business website also creates a unique experience from shopping in-store. Your website can enhance a consumer’s online experience through tracking their shopping behaviour and re-targeting them. This process of re-targeting is where advertisements seem to ‘follow you’ around the internet. A common situation is where you put a clothing item in an online wish list, and that item will later be advertised to you on social media websites, such as Facebook. Re-targeting campaigns and personalised website design are big selling points for customers.How to Set Up a Website
1. Registering a Domain name
A domain name is your unique website name. An Australian business will need you to supply or register for an Australian Business Number (ABN) to acquire a domain. Next, you will have to find an accredited registrar for your domain, which enables its use for a certain period of time. You should consider what domain you require, based on what business you are starting.2. Web Hosting Company
A web hosting company is required for you to put a domain name onto the Internet. We offer a service to assist all business owners with starting a website. We also provide other legal documents your website will require.Conclusion
It is important that you consider the advantages of having a website for your business. Your online presence allows you to reach out to a wider audience and provide them with information. If you require any assistance in setting up a website, you can refer to our article How to start an online business.
