If you’re a small business owner, chances are you have a Facebook page and an Instagram account. But if you’ve been thinking about getting a website for your company, this post is for you. Furthermore, your site NEEDS to have solid Search Engine Optimization so it makes the difference you actually need.

A website will provide many benefits that social media doesn’t offer: it’s searchable on Google, so people can find it when they go looking for things related to your product or service; it has the potential to reach more people than just those who have liked or followed your page on social media; and most importantly, having a website means not only do prospective customers know how to contact you – they know what your company does before they even speak to someone from your team. If these reasons aren’t enough convincing of why every small business owner should have some kind of website, keep reading.

But Why?

When you decide to hire a web development SEO company, you often sit back and wonder why that is. You probably know a few reasons already: a website offers you an easy way to reach out to customers and clients without having to pay for advertising on Google or Facebook; it gives potential customers more information about your business than social media posts offer; it’s a helpful selling tool when people contact you with enquiries; but why should you invest in one at all?

A little number crunching reveals the power of having your own website. For example, according to Hubspot, 70% of consumers who search for products or services online end up buying from the first site they find – 90% of them never scroll past page 1 . This means that if your site was not developed with SEO in mind from the start, you probably are not ranking on Google – and not ranking means that you just aren’t being seen!

The fact is, having a website set up will probably cost you less than putting together a decent online marketing campaign – and feeding it your hard earned dollars month after month. In a past study with an existing client (www.ruffhdt.com), we found that after launching their blog, they saw a massive increase in site traffic and furthermore…conversions. You can read more about that in our Power of a Blog post we did a while back.

1. Your Customers Find You Because of your Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

These days, if you don’t have a website of some sort, your customers might completely overlook you . Without this, you aren’t “relevant” or “knowledgeable” about your trade – or at least it appears that way. When it comes to having a website, your Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is how you pop up for the searches they’re typing in.

2. Your Competitors are Likely to Have It

This is quite possibly the most important reason of all. If your competitors have websites it is highly likely they will out-rank you for search terms related to your industry – assuming, of course, that you are both ranking at all.

3. It’s an Asset You Can Leverage as a Digital Business Card

When you meet a new prospective client in the real world, being able to send them to your website for more information or to book an appointment is paramount for conversion and growth.

4. It Helps You Establish (or Reinforce) Your Expertise

One of the most important things you can establish as a professional is your expertise in your industry. Having an Industry website to highlight your knowledge and experience provides legitimacy that testimonials, phone conversations or email correspondence alone simply cannot accomplish.

Take our website for example. See what we do, replicate it.

• Be very clear on your skills and what services you offer.
• Show a portfolio.
• Put out regular blog content.

There’s a reason for this.

5. You Need to be Discoverable in Search Engine Results

When it comes to needing a service, the first place we all go is to Google. When it comes to being found, contacted, and hired – if you’re not there, you’re not getting hired. Period. 93% of all online experiences start with a search engine. Nearly half of those searches are for local businesses or services.

With that being fact, you have to be able to portray your business online in a positive light. Don’t let your company be victim to unclaimed listings and bad reviews. Take control of your online presence, and OWN your space. This means that you need to claim all of your business listings. This helps ensure that your online presence is the same everywhere. That is exactly what we do here.

It’s time to take your business and reach for the stars with a website. If you don’t have one yet, we can help! With our expertise in web development and SEO, we make sure that you get seen on Google. We also ensure people searching specifically for your product or service can find you via keywords. We want to show you how easy it is (and affordable) to start growing your small business today with just an email address — so contact us now!