As a small business owner, you understand the increasing importance of internet marketing.

These days it’s nearly impossible to expose your goods and services to your target market without the internet. With all the functionality of a modern website, reaching potential customers has never been easier.

The increase in revenue will reflect a return on any amount of capital you decide to invest. This article will outline the importance of websites in marketing, and whether having just a social media presence is enough.

How Has the Internet Affected Marketing?

Websites have changed the marketing game in some very amazing ways. Before the internet, marketing and advertising were relatively archaic fields.

Adverts were released in print and film and there weren’t nearly as concrete ways to follow their success. 

With a sophisticated web presence, you will be able to target and track where your adverts go and how they affect your revenue. You can clearly see how much traffic a certain ad brings to your website, and how much of that traffic converts into sales.

How Can a Website Help your Business?

Internet marketing can benefit a small business that is struggling to gain traction in their market by giving them significantly more exposure. One of the biggest difficulties small business owners face is getting people interested in their products and services.

Search engines have become one of the strongest tools for consumers to find the services that they need. If your customers can’t easily find you on Google, they will likely find a web-savvy competitor.

Even businesses with quality products and tons of potential can easily be overlooked because they aren’t marketing themselves correctly. When consumers are looking for potential businesses to fulfill their needs, they go with the one that ranks highest on Google, and has the best reviews.

It has been proven that 90% of consumers are influenced by online reviews when deciding which company to give their business. Think about it, when you need a plumber, do you call the first one you find in the yellow pages?

No, you search “plumber” on Google and call the first listing because they generally have the best reviews. This process is built and streamlined for consumers but can highly benefit a business with a strong web presence.

Unless you already have a large base of loyal customers, operating without a website will result in your small business being overlooked.

What Kind of Web Presence is Right for You?

There are several different packages that Littlejohn’s Webshop offers. Depending on your marketing budget, you can get anywhere from a basic site with some exposure to a sophisticated presence with high ranking and an e-commerce store, as well as everything in between.

Like most things in life, you get out what you put in. Depending on your type of business, a basic site might be right for you.

If you just need customers to be able to find your business hours, address, and phone number, it may be best to start simple. However, if you want a high level of exposure with targeted ads that lead to your online store, better spring for the bells and whistles.

Websites are a continuous investment that, if done right, will guarantee an increase in revenue.

Is Social Media Enough?

Many small businesses start with a social media presence through platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. The nice thing about these platforms is that they don’t charge you for their services.

You can point customers to your Facebook page and they can keep up with promotions, new services, events, and so on. However, this type of presence is becoming less and less effective for most markets.

Since many of your competitors have likely upgraded their online services, your Facebook page won’t expose you to the public enough and you will be overlooked. Furthermore, since Facebook has ads on their pages, your competitors could potentially have adverts right on your company’s page.

The ideal situation would involve a combination of these platforms and a website, all working together in harmony. Your Twitter page can reach out to your customers and point them to your Facebook, which can outline your latest promotions and ultimately send them to your website.

Once there they can make purchases, appointments, or reservations. The bottom line is, having just a social media presence is not enough.

If you’re a small business owner and are interested in growing your brand, you need to understand the importance of websites in marketing. Never in history has promoting your business ever been as refined as it is today.

If you offer quality products and services and are still struggling to gain traction in your market, there is most likely an issue with your marketing practices. If you’re even remotely interested in building a website that fits your needs, it’s time to reach out to a web designer who can accommodate you.

If you want to get a free estimate, contact Littlejohn’s Webshop now!