Websites are so important to any kind of business these days. Everyone is expected to not only have a website, but that website is expected to look professional, be very organized, and offer ease of navigation. This means that we should all be constantly looking at ways we can improve upon what we already have, and just make it that much BETTER.
Below are 6 simple reasons why you need a better website:
- Gain Credibility. Websites promote trust and dedication. It shows you intend to be in business for the long term.
- Improve Customer Service. Websites can show your hours of operation and the best means of contacting you. This makes it much easier for customers to get any important questions answers, or, heaven forbid, purchase something from you.
- Save Time Communicating. Websites display important information on products and services offered, and can answer some frequently asked questions which may make it less essential that the customer contact you directly.
- Showcase Your Work. Websites provide a means by which you can display previous projects, and references from satisfied customers.
- Sell Things to a Broader Audience. The beauty of the internet is that people from all over the world can very easily do business with you.
- Provide Online Courses. You can take your expertise in certain areas and turn it into online courses that you can share with people all over the world.
Websites Are Your “Window To The World”
If people are looking for you, or your business, your website is an excellent place to look in order to find you. Further, if you do want to connect with your clients by offering them infomation, courses, and other opportunities, this is the perfect place to do it.
Social media (e.g. FaceBook) can be great for these functions as well, but they are somewhat limited
Social media limits you in what you can display, and you have no control over your site should they decide to change their platform one day. Your website is yours. You control it. You design it. It is always there for your customers and/or visitors.
What is the best Platform for my Website?
There are many website platforms out there. But at the end of the day, if you are going to grow your business in a cost-effective manner, you basically have three good options:
- WordPress
- WordPress, or
- WordPress
Why only WordPress?
- It’s Free. The software itself is free to download. Yes, hosting (access to an online server) costs money, but it really isn’t all that much (est. $4 per month), and whichever platform you choose, you are going to have to pay for hosting.
- It’s popular. Why is it popular? Because it is a professional tool with a great price tag. Why is the fact that it is popular important? Because this means that the software will continue to be supported and updated.
- It’s safe and protected. You can cheaply and easily set up backup processes to secure and store your data, as well as firewall protections to ward off hackers and attackers.
- WordPress is Search Engine friendly. It is simple to connect your website to the Google Search Console so that your site will be found in searches.
- It is Easy to Learn and Easy to Use.
- It is Extendable with Themes and Plug-ins. Plug-ins are to WordPress as Aps are to phones, As the expression goes.. “there is an Ap for everything”. There are tens of thousands of plugins out there, allowing you to create many amazing different types of websites.
- WordPress handles all sorts of Media types. You can add videos, photo albums, music track. You can provide ways for people to download items from your website. The platform is incredibly flexible.
- It’s what the Pro’s use.
WordPress is the industry standard.
It’s what all the professionals use. And it’s not as hard to learn as you think it is. You simply need to get over that fear of learning something new and “messing up”. Think like a kid again. And be patient with yourself. It doesn’t have to all get built in a day.
Do You Want to Learn How to Build Your Own Website?
What kinds of Websites do I need?
The first type of website you will likely need is what is called your “Business Card“. It is where you send people if they want to contact you, and if they want to know more about who you are and what you do. Here is where you provide great content that showcases your business strengths and ideas. You would likely have a blog, a biography, and an outline of your business including brief descriptions of your products and services. You would also have a way for visitors to sign up to your newsletter or mailing list so that you can keep in contact. You may also set up links to schedule appointments with potential customers.
The second type of website you may need is your Storefront, where you showcase your products and services and provide an easy way for clients and customers to purchase your services. You would have sales pages or product pages which describe your products and/or services in detail, and you could have a shopping cart where people can pick and choose things they want to purchase. The focus on this type of site is on the customer and what they would readily purchase.
The third type of website you will likely want to develop is your Community, or Members Area, where people who are current customers can log in and access videos, downloads, special announcements, forums, Event calendars, coaching calls and anything you need to provide to your customers, clients or community members with that you don’t want the general public to access.
Can’t I Do This All On One Website?
And yes, you can develop all three of these functions on one website. But sometimes it is nice to keep them separate, under their own URL The beauty of understanding WordPress and having the ability to design your own websites, is that you can make a decision one day – and you can change it the next. You are free to experiment. You are free to change your mind. You are free to grow your business and adapt your platform as you grow.
Start small. Take our FREE course on how to build a one page Professional, Effective, Cost-Efficient Website.