A custom website can cost more than $10,000 a year to keep. Creating a website from scratch will cost more than that. So, does it come as a surprise to you to know that 92% of small businesses in the United States don’t have a website? Of that number, 22% said that the lack of technical skills stops them from having a website. They can’t afford to hire a web designer and web developer even though they understand how important websites are for businesses.
While having a website is important for any business, there are plenty of things you can do to promote your business online. Take a look at some local SEO services available. You can pour your resources into optimizing your social media pages and Google My Business page instead.
Why You Should Strive to Have a Website
If you have the money for it, create a website for your business. This is your business’ home on the Internet. It is the information hub where your potential customers will go if they want to know about what you’re offering. A website makes you look legitimate and authentic. You have complete control of what’s on your website.
For example, you posted an ad on someone else’s website a year ago. That ad is now outdated, but you can’t update or change it because you are not the web owner or administrator. You have to let the web administrator know that this ad is no longer valid. But on your own website, you have complete control of the content that your audience receives. You can change the information anytime you want.
That being said, having a website is not the end game. The objective of every marketing strategy is to attract clients and hold them captive. That means promoting your business not only through a customized website, but also through blogs, SEO, ads, and other promotional tools.
Social Media
Your business could survive without a website, but it’s impossible for it to remain relevant without a social media page. Even your local plumber has his own page on social media, so why shouldn’t you? Choose the best platform for you or sign up for all of them. Make sure that the platform you will choose is where your market “hangs out,” and not where you’re more comfortable posting.
You can have your own page on social media, specifically Facebook. This is like having your own website, too. You can add content, engage with your followers, and even receive offers. Thanks to Facebook’s Marketplace, you can also use the social media channel as your e-commerce store.
NFC and QR Codes
Thanks to technology, smartphones and tablets now don’t even need a separate app to read QR codes and NFC. The feature comes with the latest Android or iOS operating systems. With these codes, you can redirect customers to social media pages, create interactive games, and offer more information about your products. However, your ad needs to be attractive that your market will think about accessing the QR codes.
Facebook Business Profile
While you don’t have a website yet, treat your Facebook business profile as your website. Redirect people to it. Use the link on your business card. About 100 million small businesses are on Facebook promoting their products and services. The platform itself has about 2.2 billion active users monthly. Facebook has even made it easier to adjust the parameters of an advertisement. You can reach a certain number of people depending on how much you want to pay for it. The platform is data-driven and results-oriented.
Google My Business
You should take advantage of Google’s business tools. In particular, sign up and register for Google My Business. This will put your local business on the map, literally and figuratively. Potential customers will see your business address on Google Maps. Your business will be on their radar because your listing keeps on popping every time they search using a relevant keyword.
Email Newsletters
Not many people think that email marketing is still effective, but it is. As long as you create an engaging post and an attention-grabbing subject line, customers will want to read what you’re offering. If you’re offering a 30% discount, make sure that is visible on the subject line. But aside from your recent offers, the newsletter can also inform you about upcoming products and services. The best thing about emails is that you can personalize them to make it look like you’re speaking directly and exclusively to the recipient.
A website is not the only way for small businesses to get noticed. In reality, customers are contented with the information they can find on social media. Make sure to respond to their queries immediately to ease their apprehensions. But of course, your ultimate goal should be to one day have your own site.