If you’re not going to a hire a professional … at least do it right

A website is your most powerful business tool

After 16 years of building websites, we are still mystified when we see websites built by business owners. They have either used a free service or have hired their kids to build a site. A website is the same as opening your doors to your business.

Tip # 1: If none of the information below makes sense, then maybe you shouldn’t be building your own website.

Once developed, properly, a website will:

• help sell, support and promote your business, product or service every minute of every day
• become one of your best employees / assistants

There are a lot of website services out there that offer the ability to build your own site for free.

Tip # 2: You know what they say about Free stuff … you get what you pay for.

Its understandable that you might be looking to save money where you can when starting a business. If your business absolutely requires a website to be successful, then why are you doing it yourself if you have never built one before?

• Make sure you at least have your own domain name / URL (www.yourname.ca)
  • Running a business website off of someone else’s domain with your name added to the end is pointless
  • Example: www.wix.com/yourcompanyname
• Write your own website content and use your own pictures or stock photos
  • Google Images is not a stock photo website
  • Borrowing images off of other websites is theft and is so, so bad
• Keep the site navigation easy to use
  • Site users do not want to have to click 3, 4 or 5 times to just find the information they want
  • Google actually boosts your website in their listings if you have user friendly navigation
• Make sure your website is mobile friendly (automatically resizes to fit on smartphones and tablets) 
  • Again, Google will boost your site if it is mobile freindly (a.k.a. responsive)
  • Over 51% of U.S. users are searching on mobile, compared to 42% on desktop computers
• Think like your customer (or think how you like to search and use the internet)
  • Users won’t wait for slow loading sites
  • Be specific as to what you are selling or offering
  • Google wants at least 300 words per page and at least one image to help them properly index the pages on your site

A website is a powerful tool

Every business needs a website

So why do so many businesses ignore their websites?

Unfortunately there are a number of businesses out there that have a website, but they ignore them once launched. A website is, or can be your most productive and loyal employee.

But … would you hire a fresh, eager employee, put them in a cubicle and ignore them for the rest of their career? 

Granted, years ago, (like 1999) you could publish a website which was essentially a online colour brochure and it would do the job. However in today’s competitive online world, you just can’t do that anymore.

Back in 1999, you might have only competed against 1 or 2 local competitors who may or may not have had a website. A customer may have seen your website address on a business card or seen a link in an email. They could browse your site, maybe print a PDF version of something and decide whether or not to buy your product or service.

Today, you are now competing with the world, even competing with your possible suppliers.

You wouldn’t stand for an employee who hasn’t learned anything new in the last year, made any new connections or hasn’t changed their style of clothes. Why is it okay for your website to sit stagnant with no updates?

A properly nurtured website is your best sales person, best admin person, best resource a company has. It works 24/7/365 and doesn’t call in sick, call their mom on the phone, take selfies or lose your messages or payments.

So if you have a website and haven’t updated it in the last 6 months, year or longer …

why have it?

You are only telling your audience that nothing new is happening at your business or that you don’t care to update it.

We can help with a content marketing strategy.