There is a lot of debate in the online space as to whether a business really needs a website in this day and age.
Some coaches sell people on reaching six figures without one. Business owners will boast about how they built a business with a landing page. Many marketing gurus will tell you to just get out there and sell.
It might have you wondering: Are websites a relic of the past? Do I really need one?
My answer is, it depends.
If you are in the earliest of days in your business and you just need to get rolling, throw up a landing page or an appointment scheduler and get moving.
Momentum creates clarity. Taking imperfect action is what brings results. A simple landing page can be a great option while you lay the foundations you need to build an effective site.
That said, that’s not where you should stay forever.
Let’s be honest, do you know a multi-million entrepreneur that DOESN’T have a website?
If you want to scale your business, a website is an essential marketing tool.
Here's why you need a website to really grow a business:
1. Your website is YOUR turf.
You aren't limited to 120 characters, certain photos sizes or a certain layout.
You get to create whatever you want there. It is a destination you can create to direct people to take the next step with you.
There aren’t many other marketing channels that give you that level of flexibility.
It’s a little like renting an apartment vs buying a home. For a season, renting an apartment might be just fine. But at some point, most of us want to invest in owning our own home so that we can make it what we want and begin to build the life we dream of.
2. Your visitors on your site aren't affected by any algorithms.
Everyone is always complaining about the algorithms on social media channels. They are frustrated because their posts don’t get traction or aren’t seen.
I get that feeling like you are beholden to the powers that be at Facebook (ahem, Meta) is frustrating.
But if we take all of our eggs out of that basket and put some in our own website, that is when social media can really start to be a powerful marketing tool.
You get to choose how you guide them through it. You get to choose which services you showcase. You get to choose what the next steps you ask people to take.
It's yours. You own it.
3. People who have effective websites are viewed with more credibility.
If your site is nonexistent or looks unprofessional, that will make a lasting first impression that you don't deserve.
To be transparent, if someone I am looking to hire doesn’t have a website, I assume they are new or inexperienced. That means I expect to pay less for their services.
It’s a hard pill to swallow, but I’m not the only one who thinks that way.
The thing is, not just any website will do. It needs to have a strategy to get results.
I see way too many service providers who have pieced something together for the sake of checking a website off their list. They aren't getting any results from it. Their sites have become virtual paperweights.
Your business deserves a website that reflects your excellence and directs clients through the process of booking you.
You've come too far in your business to have your virtual storefront not be as brilliant as you are.
Yes, a website is an investment, but it is one that will have a many-fold return.
I had the privilege of redesigning a photography website a couple months ago. My client, Meagan, had two sites before, but wasn’t happy with how they had worked.
They didn’t reflect her brand or drive people to action.
So I redesigned her website from top to bottom, and we launched it at the end of August. I checked in with her the other day to see how things were going since then.
"I think it may have worked because I have been the busiest I have ever been in my life haha!" she told me.
I checked her stats and she had 17 form submissions since the new site launched. Now, I don't know if all 17 resulted in bookings with her, but that is still amazing.
That's what I love about creating strategic websites. It's about getting results for your business and helping you book more clients, build more revenue and give you more freedom to work in your zone of genius.
What if you started 2022 with a new website that sells your services in your sleep?
I have two spots in January for website design projects. I am offering them at 2021 prices if you book and pay your deposit before the end of the year.
Let's start off the year with a splash and a website that will bring your business to a new level in 2022.
Click here to book a free strategy call with me where we can talk about your vision for your business and see if we are a good fit.