If you are a small business owner, you may be wondering why you even need a website, let alone engaging a professional website designer. The truth is we are living in a technology age, and commerce is increasingly happening in a virtual space more than a physical one. Regardless of whether you own a sticks-and-bricks retail business or provide services that require in-person delivery, your customers are more likely to find you online than any other way.
It’s tough enough to run a small business without worrying about the challenges of developing a professional, functional website. Here are 10 advantages of hiring someone who knows the ins and outs of website design to do the job for you.
1. A Website Designer Delivers a Professional Site
If you want your website to work for you, you need one that looks professional. When visitors land on your site, they will not hang around for long if it looks like it was created in an afternoon. In today’s market, online users have high expectations for their internet experiences and the places they choose to do business with. A professional site raises your credibility and moves a prospective customer closer to becoming a customer.
2. You Get a Site That Fits Your Business
While there are do-it-yourself website builders that employ standardized templates, you need your site to reflect who you are and what your business is about. One-size-fits-all designs don’t stand out in a crowded online space. A website designer creates a unique site that fits your business. Everything from appearances to functionality is tailored to your company’s products, your values and your mission.
3. A Professional Designer Can Optimize Your Site
Having a website gives your customers and leads a place to find out more about your company and what you have to offer. While it isn’t necessary to optimize your website to improve search engine results, increasing your search engine rankings makes it more likely people will find you. Search engine optimization strategies require an in-depth understanding of the ever-changing SEO landscape. Most small business owners don’t have time for that, but it’s just part of the job for a website designer.
4. You Receive More Business Traffic on Your Site
One big advantage to you as a business owner is that you’ll receive more traffic on your website when designed by a professional who knows how to create a site people want to engage with. You can link your site with the rest of your marketing strategy, driving more traffic to your company. With more traffic comes more business. You will see higher conversion rates and a boost in sales.
5. A Website Designer Can Build an Interactive Site
For any of your website strategies to boost your online presence and, ultimately, sales, you need a site that visitors want to explore. The more time they spend on your website, the more likely they are to purchase from you. If your site is not easy for your visitors to use, you will lose them. A professional can create a site that loads quickly and displays images and videos correctly. A skilled designer also knows where to place features like menus, call to action buttons and shopping carts. All these features make it easier for users to interact with your website.
6. You Get a Device-Responsive Design
People who search for businesses on the internet use their phones more than desktop computers, especially since they are frequently searching while on the go, waiting in line or away from their computers. Tablets are also popular. You need a website responsive to the person’s device because the formatting for each is vastly different. A professional website designer knows how to create a site that adapts to user devices.
7. A Professional Designer Understands Current Trends
Trends in website design and functionality are always changing. Technological advancements, user preferences and search engines are the big drivers for this shifting landscape. As a business owner, you do not have time to keep up with the latest trends and technologies, but a professional makes it part of their job to stay up to date.
8. You Can Keep Out in Front of the Competition
Despite the trend toward online searches, reviews, contacts and purchases, a significant percentage of small businesses do not have a website. Fully 29% of owners indicated that they had planned to start a website in 2020, while 60% said they would invest more heavily in online marketing strategies. These figures give you an idea of how much of your competition might not be taking advantage of the benefits of a website. If you do, then that puts you out in front of the competition.
9. A Website Designer Provides Technology Support
Technology is great until something goes wrong. When you have a million other things on your plate, the last thing you need is to troubleshoot website problems. Not only does this take time, but you also must have enough of an understanding of how websites work to sort out and solve the issue. When you work with an expert in website design, you get the technical support you need to resolve problems and keep your site functioning smoothly.
10. You Receive a High Return On Investment
The idea of paying for a website designer to develop and design a site for your small business can seem like an added cost that you do not need. However, when you look at what you gain in increased traffic and business, you get a high return on investment. While some designers charge exorbitant fees for their services, it is possible to hire an affordable professional who delivers an exceptional product and understands the needs of small businesses.
Invest in Your Business:
Consult an Affordable Website Designer
Affordable does not mean the same as cheap, but when you own a small business, you need a professional website designer who works within your budget. At Affordable Website Solutions, we have built our company around the needs of small business owners. We understand your needs as well as what it takes to construct a website that works for you.
We offer a complimentary workshop at the start of each project to ensure we deliver a product that works for you. Contact us today to schedule a free, no-obligation chat.
