If you run a small business, one of the most important elements to your success will be whether you have a website, and how it’s set up to help your business grow and thrive.

Your website can be the difference between being able to capture new business and losing out to your competition, so it’s important to make sure you have one that will help your customers find you when they’re ready to buy from you!

Here’s why having a website is so important for small businesses

What Kind of Website Should a Small Business Have?

A website is a business's online storefront, and it's the first place many people will visit when they want to learn more about your company. You need a website that's easy to navigate, informative, and professional. The type of site you create will depend on your company's goals and resources.

There are a few main types of websites small businesses can choose from:

• A basic site covering everything that your business does, it's location etc.
• An informational site that includes products.
• A social media page/community portal (Facebook page, Twitter account).
• A blog or content management system that offers rich regular content.
• An eCommerce website to take payments for products directly through the website.

The Benefits of Having a website

There are many benefits you can have by having your own business website and this can include things like:

• A website is the easiest way to attract new customers, who are often looking online before they buy.
• A website is a powerful and inexpensive marketing tool that can do things like collect email addresses and build your mailing list.
• A website can help you generate more business by making it easier to show off your expertise on subjects related to your business.
• You can use a website to sell products or services or offer them as free downloads.
• If you blog about what you know, readers will find out about your company and may choose to work with you based on the strength of your writing skills.
• It’s easier than ever these days to set up an attractive website with tools like WordPress.

What Content Would Be Needed for a Website?

When you have never had a website before it’s sometimes hard to know what content or information you need to display and the best advice is always to look around and see what your competitors are doing as well as other sites in general, as that can always help give ideas on what you might want for your own website.

Generally, when creating a website, you would want to think about elements such as these:

• A Home page that welcomes visitors and briefly explains what you do.
• A Services or Products page that lists your offerings in detail.
• A Photo Gallery of before-and-after shots of projects so clients know how much work you've done. And possibly an FAQs page to answer any questions about your company in advance.
• An About Us page that tells people who you are and why you're qualified to provide the services you offer.
• A Contact Us page where visitors can ask questions, request quotes, or schedule appointments.

And this is only the start as you might find other specific needs or requirements for your own business that can be added, so really the possibilities are endless in terms of what content is needed.

What Should I Expect from People Who Visit My Site?

When people visit your site, they should feel confident in the company and trust that they are dealing with a credible business. Your website should provide visitors with clear contact information, accurate descriptions of products and services, and links to social media profiles if you have them. Visitors should also be able to easily find the location of your business and hours of operation. Include an email address and phone number so customers can get in touch with you before they make a purchase or after they've visited your store.

Additionally, share any upcoming events or promotions on your site so customers know what's happening next time they stop by. Finally, make sure you're putting out new content regularly on social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to keep things interesting for followers as well as potential customers browsing through the internet!

How Much Does It Cost to Build a website?

A website's importance to a small business can't be overstated. It is the main point of contact with potential customers, and it can make or break your company's image. The good news is that getting a great website doesn't have to break the bank. There are plenty of affordable options out there.

If you don't want to spend the time creating a website yourself, you can always ask an agency to create this for you and depending on the features such as shopping carts and customer relationship management tools (CRM) the pricing can vary.

Depending on what you want out of your website, you may be able to find an affordable template or off-the-shelf theme from one of several sources, but these all come with their own cons as templates are generally created for a broader audience and not specifically you, so things are often bundled in the template which isn't needed and can bloat the load of your website.

What is a Domain Name and Hosting?

When it comes to having your own website there is jargon within the industry that you will have to overcome and understand as it's always confusing at first, but the two main components other than the website itself will be the following two as they are what connects the domain to the website you've had built:

Domain Name - A domain name is your business's online identity. It is one of the most important decisions you will make when starting a business as it can be difficult to change later.

Web Hosting - Hosting, or web hosting, is what makes your website visible to others on the internet. You need both to build and publish your site.

Having a website to suit Your Business Budget

When having your own website might seem like an expensive and daunting task, it doesn't have to be. With the popularity of content management systems such as WordPress, it is now possible to create a professional-looking website without any coding knowledge. There are many plugins that can make updating your website easy.

The plugins allow you to add features such as custom menus, testimonials, galleries, contact forms and more with just a few clicks! In addition to being cost-effective, they also give you complete control over the content which means that you don't need to rely on someone else to update your website when you want changes made.

If you want an agency to create the website for you without using too many plugins and make the website more streamlined, you can always start off with fewer pages if your budget is restricting you.

Expanding the Website as Your Business Grows

When you start your business, you might not want to spend money on a website. But if you do, it is important to make sure that the website is designed in a way that will allow it to grow with your company as it evolves and changes over time.

The design should be simple, which makes it easy to update, and easy for visitors to use when they are looking for information about your company. Make sure the pages load quickly and have plenty of pictures so that people can get a feel for what your business is like.

Summary of Why a Small Business Needs a website

A website is critical to the success of any business. It provides an online presence and platform from which people can find your business and learn more about what you offer. A website also provides a way to showcase your products, services, and expertise, as well as connect with potential customers in your area.

If you don't have a website for your small business or have one but feel it needs updating, feel free to contact us at Elms Creative as we are always here to help when it comes to websites.