“A timely reminder to NEVER rely on a single channel or third-party platform eg Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, to build your business,” – Chrissy Symeonakis
On Thursday 18 February 2021, Facebook blocked all news content from being posted onto its platform. This was in response to the Australian Government’s media bargaining bill. The level of control third-party platforms have really hit home during the eight-day blackout, and confirmed how vulnerable ‘we’ the users, are.
Although the story is still evolving and Facebook reneged the news ban, this is a grave reminder of how quickly and drastically things can change on a platform that is not controlled by you. Never has there been a more important time to understand how critical it is for your business to have its OWN identity on the internet. The place where you can tell the world who you are and what you do, on your own terms.
Why does your business need its own website?
At Creative Little Soul, we love this question! There are so many reasons why. Sure, having a website will create extra work, and there are costs involved, but in a world where things can change so quickly, the World Wide Web has proven itself to be something we can lean on, especially during trying times. Here are our top reasons why you should invest in a website:
To be included in the search
Because Google records a staggering 3.5 billion searches per day, we can safely assume that people seek solutions to their problems and look for businesses online. When was the last time you referred to the Yellow Pages to find a business? Some of you may not even know what the Yellow Pages are! According to the 2019 Google Local Searches statistics, 97% searched online to find a local business. (Source Hubspot)
To look professional
Call us superficial, but many of us will snub a business that does not have website. The Telstra Small Business Intelligence report revealed that 62% of customers will stop considering a business if they can’t find information about it online and 60% will stop considering a business if it doesn’t have a website.
However, simply having a website isn’t enough these days. There are plenty of terrifying statistics that suggest having a poorly functional website can be worse than having no website at all! The Gomez report ‘Why Web Performance Matters’ found that 88% of online customers are unlikely to return to a website after a bad experience, while another study suggested that 75% of consumers made judgements on a company’s credibility, based on their website design.
This shows that if you slap together a dodgy website without investing the time or money to provide your customer with a positive experience, you may be harming your business and losing potential customers.
To showcase your business vibe
In today’s world, customers are much less likely to wander shopping malls and brick & mortar stores aimlessly. People want to know the story behind the business before they spend their hard-earned cash. This has been even more exaggerated by the pandemic.
We believe it is more important than ever before, to have a website that encapsulates the vibe of your business. Your website is an opportunity to tell your story, let people know what you specialise in, and provide your customers with a good reason to spend with your business.
To be visible to everyone, everywhere
As the pandemic hit last year, and the restrictions and lockdowns continued, many of us were redirected from the shop front to the website of our favourite stores. And because of this shift, there is an expectation that your business will be online.
There are many ways to build a website in today’s digital landscape. There are many easy-to-use DIY web builder options available. Many web builders have impressive templates, and may surprise you with what you’ll be able to create in an hour. You could also call in the professionals, like the team at CLS, who will be able to take out all the heavy lifting.
So, if your business doesn’t have a website, and after reading this we’ve convinced you that a website is the way to go, we’ve put together a quick and simple run down on some of the things you need to know.
Things you might not know that your website needs.
When creating your own site, it is easy to get carried away with all the buttons, bells, whistles and extras. What website building novices are often not aware of, is the red tape that comes with adding features to your site. Here is a simple rundown on what you need to know when building a website for an Australian audience: (Note there are different rules across the globe, and you must be familiar with these rules depending on where you live and the audience you are targeting.)
- Privacy Policy – Before you add a contact form, do you have a privacy policy? According to Legal123, all Australian sites need a privacy policy if they collect any personal or website visitor information. Personal and website visitor information includes (but not limited to):
- Name
- Address
- Email address
- Contact number
- IP Address
- Credit Card Details
- Date of birth
Plain and simple, you cannot collect ANY personal or website visitor information if you don’t have a privacy policy on your website. For example, if your web builder has a tracking feature that lets you know how many users have visited your site, you can’t use this if you DON’T have a privacy policy.
- Terms and Conditions – Once you publish your website there is no control on who will access it and how they will use the content of your site, and this is why your site should have terms and conditions. No matter how in-depth or basic your terms and conditions are, they can offer some protection against the unknown.
- Website Disclaimer – Plan on writing a blog or offering information? You should consider adding a disclaimer. A disclaimer lets the user know that any information they take from your website is at their own free will.
- Email Marketing Laws – Before you include a SUBSCRIBE button, read this. Inviting your visitors to sign up to your newsletter, blog or content is one of the best ways to build your database, BUT before you do, make sure you’re complying with the Spam Act 2003, and this includes:
- The user has given consent for you to send emails to them.
- Your business is identifiable and contactable in your communications with the person who has subscribed.
- There is an unsubscribe/opt out option
The above information is a general guide, and you should seek further advice before launching your own website.
How to enhance your website.
Away from the red tape, there are some other website building golden rules:
- Your website should be visually appealing. There is nothing worse than visiting a website that looks like a dog’s breakfast. Argh! Make sure your site layout is simple and easy to navigate on both desktops and mobiles.
- Your homepage should get to the point – Inform your visitors of who you are and what you do from the get-go. Including your brand logo and colours provides a professional image with definition. And always showcase up-to-date photos of the things your visitors will want to see: your team, happy customers and products.
- Use a simple domain address – Choose a domain address that is short and easy for users to remember. Have a long name? Turn it into an acronym.
- Be contactable – Make sure your contact details are prominently placed throughout your website. Offer different ways for users to contact you: email, mobile, address.
- Call to action buttons – Make sure your customers are prompted to take action. If you want your customers to call you for a quote, add a button that says “Call for a quote”.
When your business has its own space on the net, you will reap the rewards. But to keep it real, we will admit that a website will create more work for you. Once you’ve hit the launch button, you’re committed to maintaining your website. Visitors will expect to see recent and relevant content. Time stands still for no one; photos will date quickly, team members will come and go, and products and services may change over time. By nature, websites are live and always on. You will have to consider how to manage visitors who will have access to your business 24/7.
Looking for further assistance?
The Creative Little Soul team are experienced with all things web, and we are keen to help with any and every aspect of setting up your business website. Contact us to discuss further.