Websites
The importance of a website cannot be stressed enough, it is your showcase of your skills, products and services including testimonials, It can also be a method of taking online payments for goods or services.
It’s no secret that almost all businesses need a web presence to compete in today’s digital age. This is especially true
for new businesses, since having a good website is one of the most important business tools in helping them achieve
their goals. Building a solid and positive web presence is key to their survival.
In the consumer’s eyes a website is a reflection of the business itself. If your website looks cheap and is difficult to
use, consumers will assume that your products or services share these characteristics. A high quality, clean website is
vital if you want customers to have a positive perception of your business.
Website design that is visually appealing will increase customer engagement. An increase in engagement will
encourage customers to spend more time on your site leading them to view and process more information about
your business.
If you are running an online business, having a poor quality website will almost certainly result in failure. Your website is
the face of your business and a good website is critical. It doesn’t matter how much money you invest in perfecting
your product or driving traffic to your site – if you website isn’t up to scratch there is little likelihood that customers
are sticking around long enough to see what you have to offer.
Online businesses also need to keep in mind the quality and functionality of the e-commerce/shopping carts. If your
website makes it difficult to purchase items due to poor design and maintenance you will be losing sales and money!
The process of purchasing from your website should be as simple as possible.
Quality websites are also of great importance to brick-and-mortar store
owners in helping customers a) find their
business and b) make the decision to visit the actual store. When looking for a particular product or service, the first
thing most consumers do is carry out a search online. This allows customers to view and compare a large quantity
of businesses without leaving their home. If your website is below par compared to your competition – chances are
you’re missing losing customers before they’ve even taken the time to visit your store.
When convincing a customer to take the time to visit your store, quality web design is not enough. The content must
be informative and engaging. Where possible you should provide as much information about your products,
services, locations, opening hours and contact details as possible. If a customer has all this information readily
available without having to carry out further searches that will be in a better position to make an informed decision
about whether or not your business will be able to satisfy their needs.
At a minimum, both online businesses and brick-and-mortar stores should have a website that is clean, functional
and informative to increase their chances of success.
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