5 Reasons Why Every Business Needs a Website
Do you have a business without a website?
We understand the reasons why you holds back building one for your business: “I’m not tech savvy”, “they’re too expensive”, “I don’t have the time”, or the infamous “I have enough business and I don’t need one”. The reality is, you don’t need to be tech savvy, getting a professional website for your business can be cheap and easy, and to make it easier for you – not having a website is costing you a lot of time and money.
Let’s have a look… 81% of people research a business or service on the internet before making a purchase decision. That’s 25.98 million people searching for businesses online. Yet, 48% of business owners listed as their #1 reason for not having a website. We’re not statisfied, but we can see that there’s a glaring disconnect here.
Still you are not sure if your business needs a website? Keep on reading…
1. Having a website will attract new customers to your business and will give you more business.
Look at these stats we like so much, we’re mentioning it twice: 81% of people search online for a business before making a purchase decision. If you don’t have a website, you have no chance to get captured with that market.
Your website can be available 24/7/365 even when you are most busy and not available. A website acts as your “always-available” business and advocate during and outside of office hours.
Websites help you convert more of your existing referrals, because most people still do their own research and compare you against your competitors.
2. Add instant trust to your business simply by having a website.
The 21st century consumer is a skeptic; in fact, 56% of people mentioned that they won’t trust a business without a website. Having a good website dramatically boosts your credibility as a legitimate business.
First impression is the last impression and websites allow you to make a very strong impression with a well designed introduction for your business.
A website can help showcase your expertise and well maintained your business. A website can be your number one tool for standing out in a crowd.
3. It’s not as hard, or as expensive, as you think.
You don’t need to be tech savvy to get a website. Many web development companies have very simple signup processes which make the process quick and painless for you.
It can be very cost effective. Websites offer a better return on investment than any other form of advertising. If you’re planning to market your business, a website should be your first priority.
It is more like of investing your money and getting a business out of it will pay dividends by driving you new customers and building your brand. Plus, it’s a legitimate business expense.
4. Having a website will end up saving you time.
Whether you’re trading emails, taking calls, or sending out proposals – communicating with potential customers takes time. Your website can save you that time by providing answers to common customer questions and inquiries.What does this mean for you? You can spend your time doing more valuable things.
5. Position yourself and stay in control of your brand.
A website acts as a platform for your messaging and shapes the online image of your business in a way that your social media channels cannot provide.
The platform allows you to position yourself in the market to get the exact type of customers you’re looking for.
Sources:
Adweek, 81% of Shoppers Conduct Online Research Before Buying [Infographic]Behaviour and Information Technology Online, Attention web designers: You have 50 milliseconds to make a good first impression!Entrepreneur, It’s 2016, But Nearly Half of U.S. Small Businesses Still Don’t Have a WebsiteInscribd, 19 Bill Gates Quotes about Business and the Real WorldSalesforce, The Importance of Customer Reviews and How to Get ThemTurboTax, Computer Software and Website Development CostsVerisign, Whitepaper: Benefits and Barriers of Bringing a Small Business Online…
Web Design Questions
– How much do you charge for a website?
– Why are you so expensive?
– Why are you so cheap?
– How long does it take to build a website?
– How do we communicate throughout the website build?
– What will you need from me?
– What if I don’t like the website?
– Do you offer a payment schedule?
– Can I make the final payment when the site is ready to go live?
– Who hosts the website?
– What if I don’t want to manage the website at all. Can you do it all for me?
– Can I update the website myself once it’s been built?
– I want to have an email signup form on my website? How can we do this?
– How many pages do I get with my website?
– Will you write the text for me?
– How can you write the text for my website without knowing what I know?
– How do you build my website?
– I don’t want to use WordPress, can I choose another?
– I already have a website, how easy is it to change it?
– Will my website be mobile friendly?
– How long will it take to get to the first page of Google?
– Do I actually need a website?
– My new business idea will be huge, maybe the next Facebook. Can you help?
– Will you buy stock images for me?
Hosting & Domain Questions
– Do I need hosting?
– How much does hosting cost?
– Who hosts the website?
– Will you buy the domain for me?
– Who will own the domain?
SEO Questions
– Do you do SEO for my website when you build it?
– How much does SEO cost?
– How do I know if the SEO is working?
General Questions
– Do you work with everyone?
– Do you only serve customers in Manchester?
– Will you meet with me face to face?
– Do you set up my Facebook, twitter page etc?
How much do you charge for a website?
Our website packages usually range from $1997 – $4997. However it really depends on what kind of website you need. We recently wrote a full guide on how much it costs for a website to give you an idea of the different options available.
Why are you so expensive?
The process we use to build your website takes a certain amount of time and a lot of planning and research. Unlike other agencies, we DON’T use templates. We build your website from scratch, which means you get a unique design tailored around your business. Buying a website from us should not just simply be seen as a business expense as your website is a sales tool that should earn you money.
Why are you so cheap?
Yep. We’ve also been asked that question too. We spend a lot of time researching, planning the user’s journey through your site and then finally with the design and build. We’re typically cheaper than larger agencies because…
We work remotely which means you don’t pay for the water cooler or beanbag chairs
We’re a small team who take on a limited amount of clients each year. You won’t be talking to account managers, you’ll talk directly to the owner, a.k.a Hamza. This saves on staff costs.
How long does it take to build a website?
It takes approximately 6-10 weeks to build a website from start to finish, providing we have all the information from you. Our full web design process is broken down here. Generally speaking, the website will only take a long time if we are still waiting for text and images from yourself.
How do we communicate throughout the website build?
Before we begin working together, we’ll usually have an initial chat on the phone or via Skype to discuss the project. Once we get started, most of the communication will take place over Skype/WhatsApp or any medium you like.
This makes the process a lot easier as we’ll have all of the information saved and can come back to it later. Once we’ve finished the project, we will book in your 1hr digital marketing training session.
What will you need from me?
It really depends on what type of website you want. We’ll be able to discuss this on our discovery call before we start working together. Depending on which package we agree on we could need…
Domain credential (if any)
Hosting credential (if any)
Images of you and your team
Images of your workplace
Content for the website e.g. text, PDFs etc
Staff Profiles
Any Videos you would like adding to the website
Login details to your existing website
Some of this might already be on the existing website, in which case it can be transferred over to the new site.
What if I don’t like the website?
You’re in luck. We offer a risk-free guarantee. Before we build your new website, we’ll design a mockup of your homepage. We’ll design a layout in Photoshop first, that way you’ll get to see our initial designs within approximately ten days. This is your opportunity to give us feedback and if you really don’t like it, you don’t have to move forward. Best part is, this won’t cost you anything.
Do you offer a payment schedule?
Yes, we split the payment into two. The first 50% is usually taken once you have seen the mockup of your homepage and you’re happy to move forward. The following 50% is taken 30 days after this.
Can I make the final payment when the site is ready to go live?
No. In the past we have found that projects can take a lot longer than expected to complete. We might be waiting for information from you and this can delay the process. Sometimes these delays can take months. This is why we always invoice 30 days after the original payment. At this point we’ll be well on our way with your new website and you’ll be able to see the progress.
Who hosts the website?
If we build your website, we will generally manage the hosting for you so you don’t need to do anything. We use the same hosting company for our own website and for ALL our clients. Each website is managed individually to avoid any security issues. Every website we build has unlimited bandwidth, 20GB of disk space, 2GB Ram and 99.9% uptime. We’ve used the same company for 5 years and we don’t plan on changing this anytime soon.
If you’re interested, the company we use is mddhosting.
What if I don’t want to manage the website at all. Can you do it all for me?
Yes, we can arrange a maintenance package to suit your needs. This can range from 1hr per month to 10 hours per month and we can discuss a package that’s right for you.
Can I update the website myself once it’s been built?
Yes. We like to offer the ability for our clients to update the website themselves. We we’ll give you all the training and tools to be able to make website amendments. We use an easy to use platform called WordPress so you can add, edit and delete content without paying us to do it for you but you would require training for this.
I want to have an email signup form on my website? How can we do this?
When we design your website, we’ll build in all the features you want, including an email sign-up form. As we design all our websites from scratch, we’ll make sure it fits in with your website style and branding.
What you will need is an email marketing platform such as Aweber, Mailchimp or Convert Kit. As you’re collecting customer’s private data it’s best to invest in a secure and reliable third party service, such as these. We can set this up for you, however, these services do charge as well. For example, Aweber charges approximately $20.00 per month.
Can I update the website myself?
Yes you can, we use WordPress to build your website which means you can make changes yourself without knowing how to code. We will also teach you how to use it with a series of helpful videos.
How many pages do I get with my website?
You can have an unlimited amount of pages on your website. We will usually design you 3-5 pages layouts i.e. A homepage, a blog page, an inner page e.g. your about page. You can then use whichever layout you want for each new page you want to add.
Will you write the text for me?
It depends on the package you choose. We are happy to write the text for your website if you would like. We have a copywriter in house who will create the content for your website so you don’t have to.
How can you write the text for my website without knowing the business like I do?
We will ask you a series of questions before we begin, then we will research your market and suggest a series of pages for your website. We’ll learn as much as we need to know to create compelling words that inspire people to get in touch.
How do you build my website?
We design your website from scratch using a number of tools. We use photoshop for the first stage of the design and then move it onto the website using a platform known as WordPress.
For a full breakdown of our entire web design process, you can consult us.
I don’t want to use WordPress, can I choose something else?
Yes, we build websites on multiple platforms. WordPress | Shopify | Laravel | React | Vue | Node Js | React JS. We will provide information accordingly and you can choose which platform you would like your website to be.
I already have a website, how easy is it to change it?
If you already have a website. That’s great. This means we can build your new website whilst your other website is still live. Once we are ready to go live and you are happy with the new site we can then swap the old site for the new one. It can take as little as 10 minutes for the new website to be visible. This means you’ll barely even notice a dip in your traffic numbers.
Will my website be mobile friendly?
Yes. Your website will be fully responsive and will look great on all devices. We don’t charge extra for this. It comes as standard.
How long will it take to get to the first page of Google?
It depends. There’s no clear answer to this question as search engines change their requirements all the time. However, we have had clients get to the first page for their main keywords within 1 month of launching and we’ve had websites take 2–3 months for Google to show them on the first page.
However, there is no guarantee you will ever get to the first page of Google for your main keywords, some of your competitors might have huge marketing budgets or have been there for years.
Do I actually need a website?
If you want to expand the business, get more enquiries or become the go to person in your space then you should have a website.
My new business idea will be huge, maybe the next Facebook. Can you help?
No. Websites like Facebook, Amazon and Twitter are not like standard websites. They require hundreds or thousands of hours of work just to get the website launched. Not to mention that you’ll need a team of developers on hand 24 hours a day to keep the website running smoothly.
Will you buy stock images for me?
Yes. We will purchase the images for your website. We use stock image websites such as Depositphotos, Shutterstock and 123rf to buy professional images so that you don’t have to pay a photographer.
Do I need hosting?
Yes. Hosting is like renting space on the internet. You’ll need to buy hosting otherwise people won’t be able to access your website.
How much does hosting cost?
Hosting usually costs less than $100 per year. It can cost a lot more depending on your requirements. Hosting prices usually increase the more website visitors you have.
Who hosts the website?
If we build your website, we will usually host it for you and you don’t need to do anything. We pay the hosting fee for the first year and we’ll send you an invoice once a year thereafter. Alternatively, you can host the website elsewhere and manage it yourself. It’s completely up to you.
Will you buy the domain for me?
Of course. You’re buying a website from us. It’s the least we can do. As long as it’s available for purchase, we’ll buy it for you and pay for the first year. We’ll send you an annual invoice for the renewal along with the hosting fees.
Obviously, if the domain name costs more than the average of $10- $20, then we’d have to discuss this with you!
Who will own the domain?
You will own the domain. We will register the domain in your name and address and it belongs to you. This means you have ultimate control over it.
Do you do SEO for my website when you build it?
It depends which package you choose. SEO is usually an ongoing commitment and will require continuous work. However, we do offer a package that will start you off on the right foot.
The Digital Elite website plan includes basic on-page SEO for 10 pages. This means we’ll perform keyword research and optimise it for search engines.
How much does SEO cost?
It can vary dramatically but our monthly SEO plans begin at $800+Tax per month. This is generally a starter plan for a local business with a moderate amount of competition.
Some of our other clients pay over $1200+VAT per month for our SEO services. It really depends on how much work will be required and how much competition you have in your industry.
How do I know if the SEO is working?
We track your rankings using our reliable software. We get updates everyday and we’ll be able to see what’s working and what isn’t. We’ll send you a monthly report so you can see your traffic numbers and rankings. Here are some of the recent rankings from our previous clients.
Do you work with everyone?
No. We only work with business owners who we can TRULY help. We’re not the type of company who work with anyone and everyone just to make money. We need to be confident that we are the right fit for one another. This is why we have a free discovery session at the start of the process. Here are 7 reasons you SHOULDN’T work with us.
Do you only serve customers in the USA/Canada?
Most of our clients are not based in the USA/Canada. Although our HQ is, we serve clients and business owners all over the USA and we also have many international customers including UK, Switzerland, Canada and even Australia.
The type of business we run means we can work with any business anywhere in the world.
Will you meet with me face to face?
No. All of our client meetings are done over Skype or via the phone. It’s rare that we NEED to meet people face to face. Technology allows us to do so much in a small space of time so we don’t believe face to face meetings are necessary.
We are always happy to meet you in person if you really need us to but we’ll arrange a consultation price for travel and possible accommodation depending on the distance.
Do you set up my Facebook, twitter page etc?
Typically not. Social media is not a part of the web design process. However, we are always looking for ways to make your life easier. If you’d like us to do this for you, we can arrange a package that suits you.
Should I have a website for my business?
Should I have a website for my business?
Let’s suppose you decide to see a well-known dentist in your neighborhood, and you search ‘dentist near me’ on your Google Chrome browser. ABC Dentist has a rating of 4.3/5 on google reviews and when you click the website tab, you are directed to their website where you are able to book an appointment online, view the clinic hours, list of doctors providing services, and much more. You decide to book an appointment but before you do so, you see XYZ clinic is only 0.9km away from your house, but they do not have a website. You call the phone number provided where you are placed on hold for good 15 minutes. You hang up the call and re-visit the website where you further read the clients testimonials and you feel satisfied to visit the clinic. You book an appointment online with ABC Dentist and receive a response promptly. See! It was as easy as slicing a potato. A website can provide so much more …
Having a website means:
- 93% of consumer purchase of your business begins with a search engine of the intended website which statistics reveal that only 7% of your marketing is being showcased in the event you do not have a website.
- Have a website? Advertise professionalism. The example above describes this fact very well. If you want your company to showcase the services it provides, have a designated website ☺
- Your potential client(s) can easily access the services you provide with minimal to no hassle. Now, who doesn’t want this?
- Ever heard of the phase: a well-designed is directly proportional to providing you positive ROI? Well! A well-designed website fulfills the requirement of this strategy. Return On Investment; commonly known as ROI, is highly probable when you have a website readily available for your clients. Let’s suppose you have had a website for your business for five years now where you have invested approximately $10,000 in designing and maintaining. You are likely to pay this back most likely with 1-5 sales. Your website can most likely generate more than five sales over the course of five years which supports the theory of positive ROI when you have a website for your business.
So, are you wondering why not give your business ad on newspaper or any other social media marketing platform known for presenting advertisement content?
Then answer to your question is pretty simple.
How long does advertisement on newspaper and/or on social media platform last? 1 month, 6 months or let’s say 1 year with you constantly posting the advertisement repeatedly. Here, you must also consider you are paying a fee for your advertisement to stay on top grounds plus the content you can showcase is very limited. Now, let’s suppose you have a website. You are paying a very affordable maintenance fee where you can showcase wide variety of content, edit, improvise, remove, publish, re-publish ALL hassle-free. This is one of many benefits of having a website. Another great thing you would like to hear? NO positive ROI? No worries. If you don’t make a positive ROI in one year, you have limitless time to showcase your business to generate and make return on the investment you made.
Does having a website open door to opportunities worldwide?
Your answer is YES!
Everyone, anyone has access to your website!!!
Let’s suppose you are intending to sell a product that can be sold online, you can showcase your product to every potential customer who visits your website, finds it useful and Voilà! IT HAS BEEN SOLD. A unique website can attract customers not only in the local areas, but also globally.
Now you may ask, what if my product(s) cannot be sold online? Well! I have an answer for you. For example, you provide a type of service such as online tuition classes. Your potential customer from a different country than your local residency visits your website, reads the content and they are now impressed by the services you provide and decides to hire a tutor. They can do so by filling out the contact form which will promptly deliver an email to you or contact the customer service phone number for your business found in your website and decides to work with you. By doing so, they have hired a tutor internationally with minimal to no hassle.
Above you can see, a well-designed website can truly open doors to infinite opportunities not just in your local geographical region, but throughout the globe.
Let’s suppose you decide to purchase a product, would you prefer to read the reviews prior to your purchase?
Most of us would answer to this question as YES!
Your website can function as a self-customer support service. Having a section or a category which provides answers to common questions and a column where the existing customers testimonials to your service are presented, it can truly shine light on the services you provide. A customer can read the reviews other customers have outlined about your product or services and decide whether to purchase your product or not. This example is very simple to us deciding whether to go for a dine-in at a certain restaurant. A friend recommending a restaurant makes us much more convinced to dine-in at a certain restaurant, a restaurant with high rating and customer overall satisfaction on their website makes an individual think they should consider dinning in their Correct?
Also, a readily helpline phone number or a virtual chat tab can guide a customer to inquire about any concern easily and conveniently.
A unique website for your business can do so much more. Don’t wait any further. Contact us today and we can work collaboratively with you to implement effective interventions and strategies which will greatly assist in accelerating your business. Click here and contact us today.
4 Reasons Your Big Data Project Will Fail
Big data is a huge buzzword in the tech world. However, it’s not limited to it. Data analysis keeps spreading its influence through more and more industries. Suddenly, everyone realized that properly interpreted information is an extremely valuable business asset. That’s why advanced analytics projects began to boom recently. Hunting for data specialists becomes fiercer. Data market investments in 2018 were estimated to reach $9 billion. So, data science market is rapidly growing, presenting opportunities for start-ups to enter the niche.
Having doubts? What if we tell you that 90% of all existing data in the world was created in the last 2 years? Despite such an impressing number, only 12% of companies use their data analytics.
For someone new to the industry, it may seem like companies are spending days and nights doing some heavy data analytics. And, of course, are uncovering unbelievable superhuman solutions. However, despite all the hype around supersonic power of data, 85% of data analytics projects fail. Wow, right?
Here’s the untold truth about big data obsession: barely anyone knows how to build and use such projects in the right way. Often companies become fooled with giant analytics projects like Amazon and Netflix. However, succeeding in advanced analytics project is rather exclusive than average, and requires high-end efforts. The recent study by NewVantage Survey stated that 77% of companies report having serious difficulties with adopting data analytics and AI technology.
Surprisingly, big data projects rarely fail due to lack of budget. In fact, companies often get lost in details and technical aspects. They lose sight of the big picture, which turns out to be an indispensable part of data analytics projects.
Let’s take a look at the most common reasons why your data analytics project could fail:
You don’t have the main goal
Imagine you’ve spent a hilarious amount of time, money and resources to build up a Titanic. And then, it just aimlessly wanders around the waters with absolutely no direction. Dumb feeling, right? Same thing with a data-driven project. While setting a purpose may seem evident, many companies either neglect it at the very start or slowly steer away from it in the process.
Analytics projects are extremely complex by nature. It involves multiple stages of the investigation, transformation, interpretation, and visualization of data. Besides, all of it has to be put into a sustainable framework and result in valuable solutions for your customers. Shortly, it’s difficult.
That’s why companies often make a huge mistake sinking in operational and technical formations. Actually, losing sight of the final goal is the main reason why most data analytics start-ups cripple. Make sure to set a rigid strategy before you hire technicians and invest in expensive research tools.
Your data lacks quality
Obviously, there are different sorts of data. Everything seems to be extremely oversaturated with data. However, in the world of information, you have to know how to separate relevant information from the average rubbish. Finding a jewel in the dunes of sand requires dedication and knowledge.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a real world if we all have done everything right. That’s why some companies succeed, and others fail. To provide genuinely useful, insightful data, you have to dive deep. Put some extra effort into getting lean and valuable information, and in combination with the right analysis it will pay off.
You’re not trying to solve your customers’ problems
Let’s get back to the business part again. Put yourself on your customer’s place. What do you expect from a company that provides data analytics for you? Definitely not vague and uncertain conclusions. When companies invest in big data, they want to make sure they not only get insights but also valuable solutions to resolve their problems.
Make sure to clarify worthy, helpful resolutions for your customers. To accomplish this, speak out all the details and expectations of your partnership to deliver the best experience.
You neglect the overall project strategy
Data analytics projects require heavy tech support and constant maintenance. No wonder it’s crucial to have skillful, experienced developers, and focus on technical solutions. Especially considering how costly and devastating errors can be in advanced analytics projects.
The case with the UK National Health Service project is probably the largest and the most expensive data project failure. The attempt of putting all patients records into a centralized system miserably broke down, flushing $15 billion. So, data projects errors cost a very high price.
Of course, data startups are well-aware of the potential risks and try to avoid it at any causes. That’s why companies overconcentrate on the ‘behind-the-scenes’ part while neglecting the big picture. Google and Netflix primarily succeed because of the formed vision and strategy, and not just the financial part.
Undoubtfully, the progress of a data analytics start-up hardly depends on managing tech operations at the highest level. However, ignoring a wholesome strategy, business objectives and customer-driven practices are likely dooming you for failure. Strive to balance both business and operational aspects, stick to a solid strategy, and rock!