THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A WEBSITE FOR YOUR BUSINESS

By Efe Igbinibia

A website is the heart of your marketing initiatives and a significant source of leads and revenue for your business. If you’re looking for more customers, or people to influence, the web is where your business needs to be.

I have met a lot of vibrant people who are running their businesses but have no websites to show for them. It is like running a kiosk. Using social media is very important for your business but social media mostly help to drive traffic to your website. A record number of consumers take to their computers, tablets and smart phones to research a product or company before purchasing.

 I was contacted recently to write a proposal on low cost housing in Nigeria. So, I set out to do my research on why there are a very few low cost housing in the country.

While doing this research, I stumbled upon a lady’s website that was doing a pretty good job in this area and has received local and international plaudits for her sustainable and eco-friendly low cost housing. While I was submitting my proposal to my client, I also did recommend her as the architect to take on this big job. This is someone I only saw her works on her website and called her up, but I haven’t met her. Such is the power of having a website. It can land you a mega job in a second. A website will not only give you credibility but it can help to give an impression that your company is larger and more successful than it may actually be.

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With over 2.2 billion people online, the internet has changed how consumers find and share information. The online world is expanding at a fast pace and is not showing any signs that it is slowing down. If you’re looking for an audience, more customers, or people to influence, the web is where your business needs to be. With over 111.6 million of Nigerians using the Internet, it is no surprise that businesses with websites experience greater revenue per year than those without websites.

Amazingly, there are still a lot of businesses that do not have websites, there are different reasons for this but mostly it comes down to business owners thinking websites are too expensive. It’s surprising to learn that a website can be built for very little money. You don’t need a giant ten thousand page website for your business, just a simple site that tells people about your company, products, services and contact details.

A record number of consumers take to their computers, tablets and smart phones to research a product or company before purchasing. If you do not have a business website you are missing all of this potential business. Even if you’re not planning on selling your products or services online, they are still likely to research it online and look for businesses in their area selling what they need.

A small business ranking ahead of a large multinational competitor in Google and gaining some of their traffic is even more important as it tends to level the playing field. Websites are flexible and can grow as your business matures. Websites also allow your business to be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all throughout the year. Do not be left in the dark, websites are one of the most cost-effective tools available, leverage the power of a website now.