Are you a small business owner? Do you have a website?
If you are a small business owner without a website, chances are people may not be taking you seriously.
When I am looking for a service provider, I search the internet, I look at reviews, and most importantly I want to see the company's website. This helps me to determine the level of professionalism, whether or not the company offers the actual service I am looking for, hours of operation and the best way to contact the company.
Sure there are sites out there like Yellow Pages or Manta that llist your business, and may provide some of the information that I'm looing for, but really, how accurate is this information. And, maybe this is just my opinion, but in this day in age if you don't have a website then you are not very serious about your business. Therefore, how serious are you going to be about providing me with the services that I need?
So maybe you do have a website and you're thinking that this does not pertain to you and you can stop reading now. If you are serious about your business, read on.
Another mistake small businsess owners make is thinking that they can spin up a DIY website and the world will come knocking. Remember I was talking about gaguing the level of professionalism? I can spot these DIY sites the minute I open the homepage, and that's usually when I turn around and leave.
Here are a few reasons why I may not take you seriously:
- You don't have your own domain name (ie. yourcompany.someDIYservice.com) (That's their website, not yours)
- Your main email is from a free email service (ie. gmail, yahoo). Don't get me wrong I am a true GMail believer, couldn't live without it, but your main company email address should match your domain name.
- Your website is not secure (accessible via https)
- Your website is not mobile friendly
Also, if you have a contact form on your website, are you actually responding to inquiries?
Having a business website is not just a matter of throwing up an online brochure, I can probably get that information elsewhere. It is about providing the information that clients and potential clients are looking for, engaging with cllients and potential clients, and providing an accessible portal for users to interact with you in a way that was once only possible via phone or in-person.
It is about looking professional, being professional, and being serious about your company.