How to improve your online presence? Having a business website helps to increase the online presence of your brand. You also get more customers and increase profit.
But for some getting a website is not always that easy. But, it is one of the first steps to drive customers to your business. Getting more customers with online marketing does not only involve having a website. But why getting a website will help drive customers to your business.
A website is a must for:
- small businesses;
- entrepreneurs;
- home-based businesses;
- or anyone selling any kind of product or offering some kind of service.
Having a website adds a new dimension to your online marketing strategy. It also widens the scope of having more potential buyers than ever.
It is easy to understand that if you are selling a product, having a website is obvious. If you are offering services, a website can tell visitors more about the services you offer. A website is an effective way to market your business.
Having a well-designed website will give you credibility. Having a good online reputation adds to your online marketing strategy.
Importance of Websites
Today is very technological. At a fast pace without any signs of slowing down, the internet and its features are advancing. The Internet’s ease of access makes it easy to reach potential clients. Websites can act as a communication hub for clients and businesses. It is also used for information, promotion, marketing, and sales.
The expression “first impression counts” is a motivating factor when designing a website. Have a very modern and easy-to-navigate website. Websites should be contemporary, up-to-date, professional, and user-friendly.
Care about how your website looks. Present a welcoming environment for clients. This is essential because a website of great quality will give a better image for your business.
Well-developed websites add to the reputation of a business. Which business will not welcome a positive reputation?
Types of Websites
In the literal world, they are several business types. Such as service, manufacturing, merchandising, and e-commerce businesses. Your type of business will determine the type of website you may need. There are many types of websites. Let’s consider 4 types of website:
- Entertainment
- Blogging
- Corporate
- E-Commerce
01. Entertainment Websites
The days are long gone when you must be a couch potato to find entertainment. One does not have to leave their homes to find entertainment. Several websites provide entertainment and activities for your enjoyment or amusement. The entertainment websites list is exhaustive. Such as gaming websites, websites for watching television shows, movies, or music videos.
Some examples of entertainment websites are as follows:
- Netflix – allows users to access a large catalog and watch movies online as well as shows.
- Issuu – publishes digital copies of various magazines, catalogs, newspapers, etc.
- Hulu– streams and shows clips of TV shows and movies via the internet.
- Spotify – is a website that streams music, podcasts, and videos for commercial purposes.
- SoundCloud – is an online audio distribution platform. Users can upload, record, promote and share their sounds globally.
- Pogo – is a gaming website where members can play board games, puzzles, and more.
02. Blogging Websites
Everybody has an opinion. A blog website is one that is set up by a single individual or a group of persons. They use it as a platform to share their thoughts on a single topic or a variety of topics. Blog articles called blog posts may deal with a singular topic such as health or technology. But some blogs may have various authors covering more than one topic. These topics are categorized. Some blogs are very personal. For these types of blogs, the owner will discuss their day-to-day life. Share their views on trending topics, such as politics. Blog websites can have several interactive features. Users can leave comments and share the blog post on social networks. Blogs may also incorporate videos and photos into their content. Many websites append to their website a blog section. This helps them to keep their website current and updated. This, in turn, drives traffic to the website.
Some examples of blogging websites are as follows:
- Lifehacker – covers tips to improve productivity and efficiency in various activities of life.
- POPSUGAR – is a blog that provides gossip and news about celebrities.
- Problogger – provides tips for blogging and content writing.
- Simply Recipes – is a blog about cooking with recipes about worldwide cuisines.
03. E-Commerce Websites
E-commerce is the shortened form of the term electronic commerce. E-commerce websites facilitate the online sale of goods and services. The payment for these transactions of goods and services takes place over the web. With e-commerce websites, users can do online shopping. Various retail, grocery stores, etc. have online selling functionality. E-commerce websites may sell clothing, books, software, streaming media, and so on. Businesses can also sell services via the web. For example, website design services, graphic design services, and so on. If your business is an e-commerce business you will need an e-commerce website. Merchandising or manufacturing businesses can make use of a website with e-commerce functionalities.
Some examples of e-commerce websites are as follows:
- Amazon.com – is the largest Internet-based retailer. Amazon profits from a wide variety of online selling areas. Such as apparel, furniture, streaming, books to mention a few.
- Qikassist – is a service website that offers virtual assistant support.
- Etsy – is a website that facilitates the buying and selling of homemade products.
- Alibris – is a website to buy new, used, and rare books online.
04. Corporate Websites
Corporate websites provide information to users about the business. Corporate websites’ focus is to build brands. The information on corporate websites is like a brochure or catalog. If your business does not have room for online sales, you will need to set up a corporate website. Showcase services or products that are not available for sale over the internet. Use it to provide information about your business and updates.
Some examples of corporate websites are as follows:
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation – is the largest private non-profit foundation in the world. It aims to improve healthcare, make education more accessible and cut poverty.
- Center for International Private Enterprise – promotes private enterprise and market-oriented reforms. Its website showcases its services and works.
- Payne & Fears LLP – displays the law services their law practice offers.
How to get a website online?
Put simply, you register a domain name and find a great website host. Web hosts store your website on their servers. Web hosting is the location of your corporate office in the virtual world, of course.
Once you have sorted your domain name and website host, you can build a website. With do-it-yourself website tools, there is no need for you to learn how to code. You can use website builders to set up your online presence. This makes creating a website to get your business online very easy.
Some do-it-yourself website tools are WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal. These website creation tools provide templates or themes at your disposal. You can use them to customize a website that will suit your business needs. While others such as Wix and Weebly have drag and drop website building features.
Why is online presence important for a business?
Let’s examine the importance of online presence for small businesses. An effective marking strategy is having an online presence. Whether you run a home business, small business, or large-scale business. Online marketers advocate that you find a home on the internet.
Once get a website online and employ other online marketing strategies, you would not regret it. Your online presence is critical to advertising and promoting your brand via the internet. A small business’s online presence includes its website and social media platforms.
Closing: Here are some website design tips.
In this modern age, having a website is great for any business. Your website is a hub to connect your customers and prospects to you. Whether you are contemplating having a website or looking to have a current website redesigned. Have a website built that incorporates current software and languages.
A website is an integral part of your online marketing strategy. If you are having an e-store, it becomes even more important.
Make your website simple. Avoid trying to put everything on your homepage. This includes images, videos, and design elements as well. A cluttered website makes it difficult for the user to navigate through your website. It also results in slowing down your website’s loading time.
The best thing is to keep everything simple by adding multiple pages to your website. As much as it is important to update the content of the website, it is equally important to update the structure of the website. Ensure your website is always functioning and running properly and is SEO friendly.
