Are business websites important?

Having a website allows you to market your business online. A website is also important because it helps to establish credibility as a business. In additions to adding credibility to your business, having a website give a positive impression that your company is bigger and more successful. Websites can include contact information to allow customers to contact you from anywhere and at a click of a button; some even have built in forms to directly send inquiries to the company.

As of 2021 up to 36% of small businesses do not have a website and 17% of small businesses do not have a mobile-friendly website. By not having an online presence you are missing out on online generated sales!

Here are some statistics about business websites or landing pages:

Less than two-thirds (64%) of small businesses have a website.

41% of businesses without websites say their business “does not need a website.”

35% of small businesses feel their operation is too small to warrant a website.

Among small businesses without a website, 29% plan to build one in 2021.

79% of entrepreneurs with a business website expect to grow at least 25% in the next three to five years, compared to 64% of those without a site

Slow-loading websites cost online businesses US$ 2.6 billion in 2020

Website visitors only need half a second to form an opinion of the website they are visiting.

Only 22% of marketers say they're ahead of the curve when it comes to responsive design. 29% say they have an “average” experience level, 23% say they're behind the times, and 4% say they’re hopeless

Across small businesses from 1 to 500 employees, 48% had a website since before 2017

More than one quarter (28%) of small businesses spend less than $1000 on a website.

The average user spends 2 minutes and 17 seconds on a website.

As of 2019, 94% of small business websites are mobile-friendly

44% of B2B buyers will leave a website if there is no contact information available

Small businesses cite cost (26%), irrelevance to industry (27%), and social media (21%) as key reasons behind their decision not to have a website.

53% of mobile website visits are abandoned if a mobile site takes longer than three seconds to load. For every one second delay in site load time, conversions fall by 12% (Google, 2018)

In 2020, 81% of all worldwide online traffic was generated through mobile phones (Statista, 2020)

57% of all U.S. online traffic now comes from smartphones and tablets (BrightEdge, 2018)

87% of the world population uses mobile devices (Marketing Dive 2020)

84% of website users would abandon a purchase if their data were sent over an insecure connection.

How do I create my first website?

There are many ways to create your first website. If you are a developer, you can design a quick mockup, code it up, and deploy it. Then you would have to monitor the site so that it works with all your users.

There are countless template options online like Wix, WordPress, and Squarespace, where you can design your site and deploy it with them. Even though this is a good option, it is very time-consuming, and this approach also requires you to understand design. On top of these pitfalls, most don't even offer SEO-optimized technology. (SEO is Search Engine Optimization. This makes you rank higher when people search for you on Google or Bing)

Even though this is the easiest way to get a business website for any business owner, most software development companies only offer the landing page at a high premium.

What is a brand?

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a brand is a public image, reputation, or identity conceived of as something to be marketed or promoted.

Everything you do with or within your business is your brand. The systems that you use to onboard your clients say so much about how you think and feel about the customers. The logo and the font that you use on your business cards and websites also convey your brand. A color could make your customers feel welcomed and loved, whereas other colors can drive them towards your competitors. The brand is as important to the success of the company as the funding but, only few people understand it's importance.

About 96% of businesses fail within 10 years, and most report to have failed in the branding and marketing department.

Why are logos important in your business?

Logos are what your customers see first. The logo is, in most cases, what first attracts the attention of your future customer. In many cases, the logo conveys what the business is about and communicates that to the customer. Because of this, company logos have to be modern, simple, and elegant to show the customer that you are a professional business.

A good logo also separates you form the competition. A well-designed company logo can communicate everything from the company’s background (professional, relaxed, fun) to their mission (entertainment, efficiency, and innovation) through the right icon or proper font. In other words, your logo is the forum to both convey your values and show consumers why you’re not like your competitors – you’re better.

Does my domain matter?

Your domain is your internet address. To make it easier for your customers to find you, your domain name will have to be directly associated with your business. Either through a direct name or some services related to your business.

A good domain name will help your SEO. Due to the nature of a good domain name, and your users being able to find you easily, your ranking on any search engine will increase.

How are business cards useful?

The business card represents your company’s brand. Not only does it convey important personal contact information such as name, title, email, website, address and phone number, but oftentimes it is also the first exposure to the overall image of the business. The company logo is prominently displayed for brand identity. The fonts used, color, texture and paper stock used also conveys a message about the type of industry represented. Specialized printing techniques can be used such as embossing, foil stamping, thermography or laminating. The business card reflects the personality of the company and gives the first impression.

Image is everything. Having a business card on hand gives the appearance of professionalism and shows proper planning. Being caught off-guard without a business card imparts an ill-prepared impression. Always carry a stack of business cards protected by a card case and you will convey a polished quality.

Introducing the Business Essential

We understand that starting a business can be daunting with all the prerequisites that need to be checked off with everything from creating the business entity (Ex: LLC), setting up your business structure, to setting your online presence. Even if you are already a household name, many factors can be missing from the business that doesn't allow you to scale to the next stage; therefore, we created the Business Essential.

The Business Essential includes some of the most fundamental items missing from a handful of new and well-established businesses around Houston. Houston is not the exception. We noticed businesses missing web pages, logos, and business cards. And if we saw these items present, they were not in sync with each other. Logos were old, websites were outdated, and business cards weren't pointing to the business website or any social media link, on top of being outdated and old. To correct this, businesses must go to different services and create everything individually.

The Business Essential includes the following:

Benefits:

What are you missing?

If you are missing any of the elements mentioned above, you will benefit from the Business Essential