A website might seem like an unnecessary expense, especially when you’re first starting out and not making much money yet. However, having your own website can actually help you make more money in the long run, both by giving you more control over your brand identity and by increasing your online visibility (which search engines love). In fact, according to studies done on the topic, most successful businesses these days have their own websites as well.
A Website Can Improve Your Career
If you’re an up-and-coming young professional, it can be tempting to think of your CV as all that matters. But don’t forget that potential employers are more likely to hire someone they like. That means they want to see what you’ve done in your spare time—something you could display with ease on your own personal website. If there’s anything slightly interesting about you or something you’re passionate about, get yourself online and share it with everyone!
A Website Can Increase Sales
More than one-third (34%) of small business owners have reported an increase in sales after launching their websites. 20% said their sales went up by 10% or more, and 14% experienced an increase of more than 50%. What’s more, 54% stated that in order to get customers to buy from them online, it’s very important or essential to have a website.
A Website Can Boost Your Brand Recognition
If you have a business, your customers need to be able to find you online. The more they can find information about you and your services online, like whether or not you have customer testimonials on display and what other businesses in your niche might say about your company, the easier it will be for them to trust you enough to make a purchase.
A Website Can Give You Focus
Do you find yourself jumping from one task to another with seemingly little progress? It’s hard to focus when your goals are all over place. Having a website helps you concentrate on what you do best, giving you space and time to narrow your focus and reach new levels of success. With a site, it’s easy for customers and clients to learn about what you do and how they can benefit from your services. In turn, it becomes easier for them to connect with you and become regular clients or customers.
A Website Is Easy to Update and Manage
If you’ve ever tried to update your site through something like Joomla, Drupal or WordPress, then you probably know that building and maintaining an online presence isn’t as hard as it used to be. Through a content management system (CMS), even novices can make updates from anywhere in just a few minutes time. If that doesn’t sound enticing enough, consider that most CMSs make it easy to add new pages and photos.
A Website Is Affordable
The cost of website development has come down significantly over time, meaning that it’s far more affordable than ever before. While it was once seen as something only big companies could afford, now anyone can have a professional-looking site for relatively little money.