Back in 2023, some researchers from Sweor conducted a study to determine the importance of websites on businesses. The article found that 75% of potential buyers judge a company’s credibility based on its website.
In today’s digital world, having a website is not just a luxury, it’s a necessity. According to market trends, the ‘modern’ shopper will simply choose a business with a website, over one that doesn’t.
Businesses that have a well-designed and a well-functioning website, are deemed to be more trustworthy, so more people buy from them. It’s all a matter of credibility.
So, if you are reading this and your business doesn’t have a website, you are missing out on some key competitive advantages.
Let me explain why:
- Websites offer increased visibility and online presence
A website makes it easy for customers to discover you on Google. This is especially important because many small businesses in Kenya only optimize for Instagram and Facebook. There are tens of thousands of Kenyans that search for products and services on Google. Tapping into this opportunity offers your business increased visibility.
A website can also attract customers from all over the world, expanding your reach beyond local and physical limitations.
- Builds credibility and trust
As I mentioned earlier, having a website makes your business look more professional and credible. In today’s world where there are so many businesses offering the same solution, building trust can give you an edge over your competition.
You can build this credibility and trust in several ways:
- Having a good and professional website design.
- Having a website that has a fast load speed.
- Showcasing testimonials from your other customers.
- Offering more information about your products and services to showcase your expertise.
- Better Marketing Options
Having a website opens you up to new marketing ‘hunting grounds’. For example, you could have coupon codes on your website to entice customers to buy from you. Some people use discount codes on special occasions such as Valentine’s Day, Christmas, Mother’s Day, etc to attract new customers. Also, a lot of Kenyans love free delivery and once in a while you can use such promotions to boost sales.
There’s also the world of Google ads. Google ads are considered more powerful than Facebook & Instagram ads, because they focus on keywords. For example, you could choose to run an ad and target the keyword (iPhone 15). If you set the location to Kenya that would mean that EVERYONE searching for that keyword on Google would find your business instantly.
Imagine how much business you can attract considering there are over 3.5 billion Google searches on a daily basis.
- Improved Customer Service & Engagement
A website provides a potential customer with all the information they need, at the tap of a button. They can find product details, faqs, prices, and any other information, reducing the need to constantly call you.
Some websites also offer options to leave product reviews, engage with video/text content, send suggestions, etc, which is very important for customer engagement. Increased customer engagement, increases the customer’s lifecycle with your business.
There are other advantages to having a website:
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO): By optimizing your website for search engines, your website would rank higher, attracting organic traffic over time without continuously spending on ads.
- Analytics and insights: Tools like Google Analytics provide data on who’s visiting your site, what they’re doing, and how they’re converting, helping you make informed decisions.
- Fast mobile access: A mobile-friendly website ensures you can cater to the growing number of people who browse and shop on smartphones and tablets.
All in all, if your competitor has a website and your business doesn’t, they stand a higher chance of enjoying these competitive advantages at your expense.
My name is Wallace and I specialize in creating user-friendly websites that don’t just look amazing, but also drive revenue results. Click here to learn more about what I do.