As Gabe Boning once said, “Everybody is a web designer until, you know, they actually try to do it.” The design of your website is crucial, yet many business owners neglect to invest in theirs. Website design can be put on the back burner and then haphazardly put together without much thought during the branding process. What was supposed to be an easy step in your business plan has turned into more than you can handle and a lot of business owners say, “Ehh, Good enough.” People don’t realize that a “good enough” website can hurt their business more than not having one. Let me give you a few reasons why.
1. ) First Impressions are Everything
Your site is often the first look customers get of your business. A team within Google has determined that it takes an average of 0.5 seconds on your website for people to make an opinion of your business. An inviting and welcoming website makes people want to stay and you don’t have long to achieve that. Your website is the face of your business, so make sure it’s a face that people want to stay with.
2.) Trust is Either Built or Broken
A good website establishes trust with your customer base. Customers love to research before they invest their money into something and your business is no different. A great website with good information and design creates consistency and in return creates trust. People want to feel comfortable with your business and good design can achieve that. Bad design can leave your audience feeling uneasy and they won’t return.
3.) Puts you in competition
You’ve heard the age-old saying, “Just because they’re doing it, doesn't mean you have to.” While that can be true in some situations, website design is not one of them. You should have a great website because your competitors also do. You want to make sure when someone clicks on your website, it’s better than your competitors and you stand out.
4.) SEO Ranking
This may be a reason that doesn’t seem important but trust me when I tell you it is. SEO means Search Engine Optimization which refers to improving your website’s visibility in search engines. When people are looking for a service they often start with a search on Google and from there they choose the first options that pop up. Having a great website makes it easier for search engines to discover and access your business’s information. For more on SEO, take a look at our previous blog here.
5.) Brings in Revenue
The goal of any company is usually to grow and bring in more revenue while doing it. A great website makes sure there are more opportunities for your business to grow. According to IBISWorld research, 28% of all business activity is now done online. The ease of ordering online has made customers expect great websites to do that. If your website seems poorly done, customers will take their business elsewhere.
When it comes down to it, a good website design is worth investing in because your customers will want to invest in your business in return. Designing and optimizing a whole website can be daunting. Reach out and we would love to help you create a website that makes people want to stay!