Consequences: What Happens if You don’t get a Business Website

Do you really need a website? Perhaps that question, one that we still hear too often despite the ever-increasing ubiquity of the digital space, should be asked differently: can your business afford not to have one? What Happens if You don’t get a Business Website?

The internet has become such a common part of our everyday lives that not reaching out to potential customers in this space is a crucial missed opportunity. If your business doesn’t get a website, you will inevitably suffer from the consequence of inaction.

What Happens if You don’t get a Business Website?

1. Lack of Competitiveness

Above all, your business will not get the exposure that your competitors with a website have. Regardless of your industry, your target audience is online; more than 3 billion users worldwide, and 93% of the Australian population, uses the internet.

When this audience first becomes aware of a need, they likely turn to a search engine. If you have a website optimised for keywords relevant to your industry, it will show up in the results. If not, your competitors will have free reign to position themselves as the go-to product or service in your industry.

2. Reputation Damage

Another issue inevitable to emerge is the fact that the portion of your audience that already knows about you will seek you out but be unable to find you. That, in turn, can lead to significant damage to your reputation.

You begin developing a reputation of not being modern enough, again falling behind your competition. But you also engender frustration among your potential customers, who may just have looked for your address, phone number, or opening hours. Not having an online presence in the form of your website is a reputation harming step you want to avoid.

3. Missed Social Media Opportunities

Social media has irrecoverably changed the way businesses interact with their customers. A formerly one-way street has turned into a two-way conversation, with customers having a larger say and more input than ever before. For your business, these interactions can be crucial to success.

First, it allows you to engage with your customers and determine their needs more accurately, developing a better business in return. But just as importantly, your loyal customers are able to spread the word about your business if they like what they see on your website, providing free promotion in a credible way. Without a website, of course, this word-of-mouth marketing falls away.

4. Missed Mobile Capabilities

Smartphones and tablets have become an integral part of how your audience accesses the internet. In fact, mobile internet usage surpassed its desktop counterpart for the first time last year, and the gap is only expected to widen in the near future. Your customers are on mobile, whether you want them to or not.

A smart mobile responsive website adjusts to these changing consumer behaviours. It responds seamlessly to the screen size of a visitor’s device, limiting horizontal scrolling and optimising the navigation. Phone numbers can be called with a single click on the hyper linked number. Without a website (or with an outdated website), however, you miss out on the opportunities and new necessities that have arisen with the mobile digital revolution.

The consequences of a non-mobile-friendly website are dire. You’ll miss out on customers who can’t use your website in the way they want and need – leading to a loss of sales and reputation. Pixelfish is here to help you make sure your website is future-proofed for mobile devices, with beautiful designs that encourage customer engagement and conversion.

Further Reading: 3 Reasons Your WordPress Website Must be Optimised for Mobile

5. Incorrect and Outdated Information

Finally, another common reason we hear against getting a website is that an old one already exists. But are you sure your current website actually accomplishes what you hope it will?

An old website does not only mean you miss out on the mobile opportunities mentioned above. You also run a significant risk of pages with incorrect or outdated information, which will put your business in a bad light. You don’t want to keep answering questions about a product you no longer offer, or list a staff member who no longer works for you. Old and outdated or incorrect information on your site is both inconvenient and harmful for your business and its reputation.

So do you need a website? The answer is unequivocally yes. The consequences of your alternative made it absolutely necessary. So if you find yourself wondering whether or not you should build or update the online presence of your business, contact us today.

Contact us today to start helping your business succeed in the digital realm.