If you’re already connecting with your customers on social media or keeping it analog with good, old fashioned word of mouth, you may wonder whether your business really needs a website.

That’s a question we encounter frequently here at Geekbears, and we’ve jotted down a few reasons you should have your own website. From compiling customer reviews to keeping the digital doors open 24/7, today’s top businesses are harnessing technology to control their brand narratives, drive engagement, and ultimately, better serve their customers.

Whether you’re just starting out, or have been in business for years, your online presence can influence visibility and alter public perception. According to Pew Research Center data, nearly all US adults between the ages of 18-50 were online in 2018, and the number of tech savvy seniors has steadily risen over the past decade. A shift from at-home PC users toward mobile-only users nods to the ubiquitous smart phone generation, and reminds us that potential customers are ready to connect at home and on the go. If you’re working with an outdated site that doesn’t play well with mobile phones, you’re instantly missing out on a slice of the pie.

Even if you don’t have a website, there is likely some information about your business online. A disjointed Google, Yelp or a social media page can cause confusion if the information is scattered, inaccurate or incomplete. Creating a dedicated website puts the power in your hands, and is easier than you might think.

If you have tried before and were frustrated by the process, or simply haven’t found the time, don’t fret. We know how hard running a business can be, and as a small company ourselves, we’re dedicated to working with you on your terms and on your schedule.

At Geekbears, we believe every business, regardless of size, can benefit from having their own website, and here are a few reasons why:

Establish Credibility and Accuracy

An easy way to show customers that you mean business (pardon the pun) is by maintaining a customized online presence. Having a professional, easy to navigate website builds trust and brand recognition. If your point of sale is online, a well designed and secure website gives customers peace of mind when it comes time to pull out their credit cards. For brick and mortar businesses, your website helps potential customers find your location and understand what you do. Online business listings often have inaccuracies regarding your address, opening hours and services, so it’s up to you to ensure that the information available to the public is correct. If a customer’s first attempt to connect with you is one of confusion, they may not try again.

Personalize and Stand Out From the Crowd

One of the top reasons to invest in your online presence is to showcase your business and stand out from the crowd. Nearly every business has a direct competitor (or ten), and setting yourself apart with a limited marketing budget can be a challenge. A unique, customized website provides you with a chance to tell your brand’s story, establish yourself as an authority in your industry, or show off past work. Communicating your personality through your website is often the fun part of an otherwise nuts and bolts task, and reminds your audience that there’s a real live human behind the product or service they are buying. We understand that every business is different, and work with each client to create a dynamic combination of visual and text elements to convey your brand messaging and unique style.

Aggregate Everything You in One Place

Depending on the type of business you run, there could be bits and pieces of your work, press, and customer feedback scattered all around the internet. A restaurant, for example, might have pages on UberEats and Doordash, a Yelp page, and mentions on social media. While it’s great to have a wide reach on multiple platforms (which can often lead to organic discovery), businesses can use their websites to cut through the digital noise and aggregate helpful information all in one place. A website can serve as a hub for social media pages, a scrapbook of press links and reviews, and a general home base for a business with tentacles in many parts of digital space.

Create a 24/7 Customer Representative

A well designed website can stand in as your 24/7 customer representative, offering baseline information about your business and answering frequently asked questions without straining your human resources. Tools tailored to your business can help you capture last minute or after hours requests like next day appointments through a custom booking platform. A chatbot or other automated customer service feature can help answer general inquiries from site visitors so you can spend more time on task.

With so many aspects to running a business, fielding customer questions can feel like a chore, and for many lean operations, that responsibility falls to staff members that already have other obligations to fulfill. Even with superhero energy levels, small business owners occasionally need to disconnect from phone and email correspondence and get some sleep.

Work Smarter Not Harder

There’s an old adage “work smarter not harder,” and at Geekbears we want to help you make the most of your efforts. When designed properly, a custom business website can boost your manpower (and womanpower). It provides resources to potential customers, establishes your brand identity, shares knowledge, and builds trust. A great website is a passive, yet powerful ally in your corner, and a cost effective marketing tool that puts you in control of your brand.

We believe in business owners, big and small, and take pride in connecting our clients with their customers through intuitive web design. If you’re feeling inspired to build your next website, or would like to learn more about our services, drop us a line. We’d love to answer your questions or set you up with a free consultation.