Here are some important reason why your business needs a website:

1 – Your customers expect it.

If this were the only reason on the list, it would be enough. Six out of ten consumers expect brands to provide online content about their business on some form of digital property, and more than half head straight to the brand’s website for product information.

If you don’t have a business website, today’s digital-savvy (and impatient) customers may look elsewhere.

2 – You control the narrative.

It’s true that you cannot control what others say about you on social media channels, but you can influence public   perception by creating your own story via a business website.

A company blog helps business owners get their message, mission, and personality in front of their target audience faster than print ads or snail mail brochures.

Plus, social icons linking to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other networking platforms make sharing your content easier for your visitors who like what they see.

3 – More bang for your buck.

A website enables you to position your company to reach thousands more potential customers for less than you would spend mailing ten brochures by traditional mail.

4 – Your competitors all have company websites.

Once a consumer has an idea of what they need or want, they start researching, and 72 percent of them go online. So if you’re not staying competitive with your competition, you’re giving shoppers a reason to buy from someone else.

5 – Never put up the ‘closed for business’ sign again.

Nobody wants to work at 3 a.m., but some people like to shop then. Having a business website or e-commerce store means that you can sell products all the time — not simply between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

6 – You’ll show up in Google search results.

Consider this: 81 percent of consumers perform online research before making a purchase.

If you don’t have a website for your business, the chances of showing up on the search engine results page (SERP) are zero. But if you have a site, you can optimize it for search engines, thereby increasing your chances of appearing at the top of Google’s results and getting more visibility with potential customers.

7 – Create a resource centre for your staff.

In addition to helping customers, your business website can also benefit your own employees.

Create an orphan page (one that is not visible anywhere on the site so it can’t be found unless someone is given the direct link) with self-service videos, instructional materials, or even internal forms to help your team learn everything they need to know on their own schedules.

8 – Showcase your products and services.

Not only can you display your products or outline your services in detail with beautiful images, but you can provide short video tutorials or downloadable PDF instructions to give customers no reason to go elsewhere to purchase.