Est Read Time: 5.5 Minutes
Recently, I’ve been looking around for commercial real estate agents to help my boyfriend and his mom find a new place to open a second location for their small business.
I start my research in the same way most people do, I searched on Google. I put in ‘Real Estate [Location]’.
Any real estate agent without a website will not show up, meaning they are losing out on the money they would make from finding us a new retail building. On top of all the other potential buyers who are doing the same as me.
You want to start with a website because most times your potential customer/client is searching for you in a web browser! People don’t usually go to social media first, they check it out after reviewing the website.
Yes, it is important to have a social media profile or two, you’ll discover why social media isn’t the most efficient or effective place to start in my reasons to start your online presence with a website.
#1 You Own it and Control All the Content
I cannot stress this enough, you do not own your social media pages! It is rented online space that you can be evicted from at any time and without notice.
Whereas a website is a bought and paid for online space. It goes in your name and you are the one who manages it.
You get to decorate it however you like, showcasing you or your brand’s personality! You even have full control of what kind of content you’ll put out on it. From blog to podcast to video, you can integrate it all into your website.
All of this alone should get you excited about creating a website for your business and see just how invaluable it is to have.
A website is an asset, not an expense.
#2 Potential Customers/Clients are Searching Through Web Browsers for You
Let me elaborate.
As I was saying at the start of this blog, my boyfriend and his mom are looking to open a second location for their small business. What have I been doing to help? Searching up real estate agents who can help us find a place.
We need someone local to the area who knows the best place(s) for us to open another shop. The best way I am going to tell if a real estate agent is local or not is if I find their ‘About Me’ page on their website. I’m not searching through Instagram or Facebook, I’m using Google.
I am telling you, you need to have a website so when people are looking for the service or product you sell, you pop up!
If your business pops up but there is no website, people are not going to be buying from you.
#3 It Shows Your Professionalism and Makes You Look Legitimate
A key piece to the buying process is building trust.
In 2021, if you don’t have a website, you are so much less trustworthy. I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but people don’t want to buy from someone who will not invest in a website.
Not only is it just unprofessional now, but it also makes you seem illegitimate.
Why?
Because there are so many scammers out there!!
Think about my field, marketing. There are so many scammers who claim to build websites, optimize SEO, or will sell you followers, that without my website, I know that no one would trust me.
I don’t trust anyone who comes into my inbox or is calling me but has no way of proving they do what they say they do. (And neither should you.)
Please, trust me. You are losing out on so much money by not investing in a website.
#4 Easy-Access Hub for All Your Information and Platforms
As I was saying in reason #1, you have complete control of the content! So if you run a podcast, create videos, take photos, write blog posts, etc, you can integrate it all onto your website.
As well, if you’re on multiple social media channels, people can easily find them on your website.
All the information a person could possibly need to decide to buy with you can find it all in one location: your website!
#5 Complete Personalization
Incorporate your colours, logo, photos, videos, and more to showcase you or your brand’s personality!
Your website is your first impression to people, so if it looks sloppy and outdated, you’re going to come across as sloppy and outdated.
And why would you want a sloppy and outdated website anyways? Is it better than no website? Well, debatable.
Especially when website building sites, such as WordPress and Wix, give you thousands of themes to choose from that you get to further customize.
Make your website welcoming, eye-catching, and easy to navigate. Then write copy that speaks to your ideal customer/client to draw them in completely.
You want your ideal customer/client to see your website and become intrigued. And after further investigation, you want them to resonate with who you are and what you’re selling (by talking about them and how they will benefit from your product/service)!
Action Items
Okay, so now you have a good understanding as to why it’s important to have a website, especially if you’re just starting to create your online presence.
Now you need to decide:
Are you going to build your own website?
Or,
Are you going to hire someone to do it?
If you want to build your own, I can walk you through creating a one-page website on WordPress! Just CLICK HERE to read more about that.
If you are looking for someone to build you a website, we have a couple of options here at Razzle Marketing! Just hit the email button below and tell me about your business and what you’re looking for.
The important part is that you make the investment. Trust me, if you don’t, you will continue to lose out on more customers/clients.
I hope you found this insightful and it gives you the push you needed to take the plunge and invest in your online marketing!
Until Next Week,
Jordan