Despite living in the digital age, there are still some of you who question the value of having a business website. You have various arguments. For example, you’ve always conducted business out of your physical office or you get the majority of your clients through word-of-mouth. These are good points. But nevertheless, there are many reasons that having a business website is an absolute must:

1. Presenting a professional image: These days, most people expect you to have a website. If you don’t have one, this could raise suspicions about your credibility and professionalism.
2. Branding: Even if you don’t have a website, it is probable that your business is listed somewhere online (such as Yelp.ca or Yellowpages.ca). This means that anyone can write anything they want about your business, even if it doesn’t conform to your brand. With your own website, you can be the authority about your brand (as well as claim some of these listings).
3. Access: With a website, clients can find information about your business and services at all hours of the day. They don’t have to wait until 9am to phone you. This increases your chance of conversion.
4. Time efficiency: A website can cut down on the time you spend answering inquiries from prospective clients. By providing an FAQ or your hours of operation online, you can reduce your time spent responding to common questions.
5. Lead generation: Even if the majority of your business comes from word-of-mouth, why wouldn’t you want to attract more business? A website allows prospective clients to find you online. Invest in a Google AdWords campaign that drives traffic to your site, and you will see an increase in leads.
6. Affordability: Having a website means that you can take advantage of the more affordable methods of online marketing, such as social media. Print advertising is costly (not to mention non-sustainable). Fortunately, there are far more cost-effective ways to get your message to the right audience.
7. Targeting: Online advertising (such as Facebook ads) also allows you to target the right clients. You can target them by age, gender, location and interests, which increases the likelihood that you will generate qualified leads.
8. Expansion: A website allows you to expand past your local geography. Have you ever wanted to grow your business nationally or even globally? This is attainable with an online presence.

Your business may be doing just fine without a business website. But isn’t it time to set the bar higher? Why would you want to limit your business’ potential? Isn’t it time to take advantage of the opportunities that await you?