How important a business to have a website?

[canisaputra]

Hi,

I run a fashion business in Indonesia. Currently, we only market our service and product via social media.
It's still a start-up business and our equity is not pretty much. So, to generate leads and increase brand awareness, should I make a website?
With cost cause by buying hosting and domain and time we invest in building and posting content in our website, will a website be a profitable funnel for my business?

Gladly to hear your experience and advice, thanks!

 

[vishwa]

A website is a good option to centralize your selling platform. Today's competitive world, you definitely need a website for your business. It helps you to connect with Global buyers and increase your profit ratio. Today every business owner tries to cover customers globally and you can do it with a website.

 

[Rob Whisonant]

In today's world, a website is like a telephone was years back for a business. Prospects and customers expect a business to have a website now. Even if it simply shows hours open, how to contact and how to get to the business.

A business these days that doesn't have a website and email appears to be way behind the times.

 

[gadislade]

According to me everyone have a website so that their customers comes directly to their website, do whatever they want , It is the best way to attract your customers and turn them into sale.

 

[Saiah Davis]

Yes... Develop a website.

- Get some hosting,
- Install wordpress and get a premium theme.

Sounds like you're already building a following on Social Media so you can now post blogs on your site (related to your fashion niche of course) and share them on your Social Media accounts, this will direct your Social Media traffic to your website.

You also want to set up an auto responder account, maybe with getresponse or aweber and add an optin box to your website (at the bottom of every blog post and wherever else you see appropriate). You'll now be equipped to build your own database of your targeted customers and you can communicate with them any time you wish via email.

I don't know what exactly your fashion business is about and how you generate income so I'm providing a general set up that will benefit you from having a website (oustide of the important fact of branding)

 

[Hawker]

So, to generate leads and increase brand awareness, should I make a website?

Yeah why not?

Of course, it's not just about making a website. There's more to it than that of course.

You will need to SEO, market, promote and advertise your site. Drive traffic to it, promote it on social media etc etc.

With cost cause by buying hosting and domain and time we invest in building and posting content in our website, will a website be a profitable funnel for my business?

A website and the hosting of it and SEO promotion of it is negligible really. You can star a website on a shoe-string budget. Likewise the SEO/promotion.

I remember when I used to snap up 0.99c domains on GoDaddy. They stopped doing it now. But I'd pay $0.99 for the domain, slap WordPress on it, turn it into something, some turnkey site or something. Then do a little slow SEO on it and add content to them which I could write up myself or get for cheap somewhere anyway. Then flip them for up to a k on Flippa and Ebay.

The trick is the pitch you make for it. The way you wrap it up. Get that right and you could sell sand to an Arab.

But you don't want to sell your site obviously! I'm just saying, it can be done for a negligible price.

In time, as your site ranks up and gets more traffic, you can monetize it.

So that in say, 10 years time, it's paid back 10,000,000 what you paid for it.

Now that's what I call an ROI!

 

[michaelandy]

There are lots of importance of having a website for a business. It makes your customer access your business and its product easily at any hours whether your store is closed or opened. And the most important thing is that a website makes it possible to target a wide market.

 

[stoneman]

You need to try and create the website because it will help your business later not now, but soon you will not regret ever having a website that points to your product,

Having a website will spread your product to so many users on the internet who are really interested in the type of service you offer, because people search for what they want online no more offline, so the benefit of a website is much to be left behind when doing a business, so I recommend you to startup one and thank us later,...

 

[Mike001]

I have to agree with most of the above comments. Starting up a website is a low cost way of getting your brand out there for all to see.

It gives you an opportunity to showcase particular products, open your product line to international buyers, answer the common most questions that customer have about your products, give background information about you and your staff, and the list go on and on.

With the new tools available you can even target your website to particular customers, particular areas of the world, and monitor what your products your potential customers show the most interest in.

This can really help you as you develop your product line.

I would say, that based on all that it is a resounding YES to begin a website for your product line.

 

[josh30]

Having a Website on you business can attract more costumers and also it will help you business to grow. If your website will be known around the world. then you sales will grow, Its like your expanding your branch around the world. We are living in the world now that everyone can reach anyone in anywhere in the country. So having a Website for you business is the best thing to do. So go start your website now. There are a lot of sites to help you to have your own website, even your not that so Computer savvy person.

 

[JonathanS]

Well, to answer your initial question. I think it does depend on what type of product/service you are running within that business. However, a general website for any business wouldn't hurt in further establishing and promoting their interest. For a start-up fashion business like yourself, I suggest continuing to work social media leads. Building a loyal following especially on an FB and Instagram page. Once you built up a decent audience. Take the time to create a small website. It doesn't have to be fancy. Just include everything you want to display along with contact information. My main tip though with a website is to include content! People overlook a fashion article or two to go along with their website. Even minor content contributions help in the website's overall ranking. Which ultimately promotes your business at the end of the day when typed through search engines.

Like I said, as long as you have a big enough audience and a small budget for domain hosting, you're good to go! I hope that somewhat answers your question. This is the technique I would approach if I was in your scenario. Either way, best of luck with your business!

 

[Shantel]

I think it is very important as nowadays most people use Internet for search. Also it is important for the website to be mobile compatible as more than 50 % of customers use their mobile devices.

 

[mastrodigital]

It helps improve your brands image and you can eventually start selling on the website itself. Websites are also a great way to deliver updates and content which is one of the best tactics for offering value. Look into getting cheap hosting from Hostgator or a similar service and getting a domain name. From there you can install WordPress for free and there are endless plugins to give you all the features you want.

 

[WebzSuite]

If you want to manage your destiny... Then yes, you will need a website.

What will happen to your business if something would stop you from using social media?

 

[Nancy G]

Having your own website is just like handing your business card to your customer. It shows a good impression, presentation of your company. Your own website can showcase all your products, available promos and other information. While you are using other social media sites in promoting selected products, you can direct potential buyers to your own website to see the complete list. Consumers expect stable or capable companies to have their own website. Cost-wise, this is a more practical marketing tool to generate awareness and potential customers for your company, products and services as compared to doing traditional forms of advertising in broadcast media.

 

[RenderedElite]

You definitely need a website if you want to grow your business and increase sales. These days, there are so many cheap solutions and getting your own website is not a difficult task. Go for it.

 

[fern2x2001]

In these days, having a website for your business is really a must if your planning to succeed let alone survive in a tight competition of entrepreneurship. Having a website for you business is like having the power to reach your desired demographic on a very large scale with just one click away. You would also have the power to influence people on choosing you and your business. Unlike during those times that you would have to pay for your business to be broadcasted and be known for people whom your not even sure if your reaching your desired demographic. And besides, doing business, you'll really need all the help that you could get.

 

[sidrawat]

Of course, you need to get a website developed for better & long-term business benefits. Your business will also gain credibility after getting a website. It is always accesible and also enable you to keep your customers informed. To grow your business & to target a wider market, a website is a must for every business.

 

[romadelgado]

For me website is a good tool to attract clients in a business because there are so many people today that are always online. The website allows a business to showcase the product. It is easy for the customers to find out what the store offers because some or most of the important details about it, is already advertised on the website. If the customer has inquiry about the product offered, it is easier for the store owner or seller to answer because it is just one click away.

 

[CookieRunner]

The importance is really high to have a website with your business. Nowadays, every business has all types of Social Media Accounts and everything that you can search in the Internet including Websites. Having a website also attracts potential buyers, customers and audience not only locally but also Internationally. Think of something big. You would profit a lot and would deliver a message that your website is credible and you can display more information about your Business.