At CIS Agency we often hear a few different arguments against having a website:
If my customers have questions, I don’t need a website - they can call me or email me.
Why invest in a website when social media sites are free?
We have been in business for many years without a website!
We have a website, but never update or use it to its potential.
Do you fall into any of these schools of thought?
Here are TEN reasons why that would be a costly misstep!
#1 Your customers expect a website.
No website? Potential consumers may question whether your business is legit. A website adds credibility to your business. Short of that, they may pass you up for a competitor.
#2 Your competition has a website.
If they do, it’s likely benefiting their business—potentially at your expense. If they don’t, it’s time to create one yourself to ensure your company is the one that stands out instead!
#3 A website means you’ll show up in search engine results.
Ask your friends how they discover new products, services, stores, or restaurants. Chances are, they'll mention tools like Google, Siri, or Alexa. The truth is, people—including your potential customers—are actively searching online for exactly what you offer. But without the right visibility, they might never find you.
How do you show up on the search? You need a website! (And a little something called Search Engine Optimization, but that’s a conversation for another time.)
#4 A website houses all the important information your potential customers need.
With a website, all the information your customers need (like business hours, FAQs, products, the ability to buy them) are all in one place and are accessible to anyone with an internet connection. They can check you out and get answers to their questions, without taking up your precious time to field phone calls about your products/services, hours, etc.
A great example is the Grand Rapids Griffins or West Michigan Whitecaps websites. Check one out and ask yourself: What if this information was only available via phone call? How much time would it take an employee to handle? Yikes! The investment would be staggering!
OK, now you may wonder why not just house all that information on a social media site?
#5 A website allows you to reach the online community as a whole – not just social media users!
First of all, not all your potential customers use social media. If they are, they aren’t necessarily all using the same platform. Even how they use social media (or how often) can be different. What do these platforms have in common? They all allow users to navigate to your website!
#6 Websites control your testimonials.
It’s also important to remember that you don’t “own” that social media page - even if you’d like to think you do! Posts from customers (or even competitors!), the social media platform’s branding and advertising, all affect your brand.
You can't control who posts on your social media or what customers say after visiting your business. But what if you had a space to showcase all the positive feedback without worrying about negative comments? A website allows you to do exactly that. With your own platform, you have full control over testimonials, creating a curated collection of the great things people have said about your business.
#7 A website helps you to keep a consistent message.
Maintaining a consistent message across multiple social media platforms can be both challenging and exhausting. That’s where linking to your website comes in—it lets you share your message without having to constantly reinvent the wheel. Imagine running a promotion and announcing it one way on Facebook, another way on Instagram, and then having it shared to Pinterest. If a mistake slips through, it’s nearly impossible to fix once that Pin is out there. But with a dedicated website, your customers always have a reliable source of accurate information, ensuring clarity and consistency.…
#8 A website can help your customers spread the word for you.
Your website can become a powerful tool for spreading the word on social media. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X offer incredible reach, while LinkedIn is ideal for connecting with professionals ready to invest. Pinterest, on the other hand, gives your content lasting visibility. With just a few simple setup steps, your customers can share your products or blog posts directly to these platforms, amplifying your reach effortlessly. This means less time spent managing social media and more opportunities to grow your brand.
#9 Websites can give your staff a place to do business.
Have staff? A website allows a resource that can be accessed with work email – which means they don’t have to mix their personal social media account with business or create a new profile just for business use. It’s also a great place to post jobs and (back to the points above), create credibility for those job postings!
#10 Websites give you more marketing options.
For example, you can use opt-in forms to collect email addresses on your website. Pop-ups can offer discounts or newsletter sign-ups as an additional means of marketing. This means you’ll reach your intended audience with more great products and services, without lifting a finger to do it!
Creating a website doesn’t have to be costly. We’re here to help you set up, launch, and maintain a reliable online presence—a consistent resource for your customers. Plus, we’ll work to boost your visibility in search results. Picture this: someone asks their phone about a service or product you offer—will it direct them to your business, or your competitor’s? The answer is clear: your business needs a website. Let us make it happen!
Reach out to CIS Agency to learn more!
Tel | 616.347.6300 | service@wearecis.com | www.wearecis.com/connect