As a starting entrepreneur, you naturally have a lot to deal with. You are working on your product or service, your administration, marketing, and everything in between, you also have to build a website and ensure that you are visible online. You may have asked yourself: is all this really necessary? The answer is yes, more than ever!
Nowadays, almost everything happens online. A new restaurant on your street? Just look it up on Google. Looking for a birthday present? Online shops offer endless choices! Planning a weekend away with friends? The group chat is already full of links to holiday homes and activities.
In this blog, we explain why an online presence is so important and how you can approach it smartly as a start-up!
First impressions are formed online
Your website is often the first point of contact between you and potential customers. Whether you are a coach, photographer, hairdresser or freelancer, people will look you up online! What they find online largely determines their first impression of your company and professionalism.
A professional and well-designed website exudes confidence. A website is not only a digital business card but also a powerful marketing tool that presents your products in an attractive way. A clear and attractive design, with your own house style, creates a sense of calm for your visitors, which contributes to a good first impression.
On the other hand, having an outdated or cluttered website can scare potential customers away. They may feel that you are less serious or active, making them more likely to close your website and look at your competitors instead.
Customers expect you to be available online
Nowadays, visitors to your website will expect you to be available online at all times. Visitors want to find information about your products quickly and easily and assume that if they contact you, you will respond promptly.
So make sure customers have direct access to the information they need. Communicate transparently and create a clear website where everything is easy to find.
Potential customers also want to be able to contact you via their preferred channel, such as email, social media or WhatsApp. Offering multiple contact options increases the chance of interaction and conversion.
Webador Tip: Make sure you set up your phone number, email and WhatsApp via the mobile bar in the mobile view. This way, customers can easily reach you from their phone.
Google is your best friend
Imagine: someone in your area is looking for exactly the product or service you offer. They type ‘photographer in San Fransico’ or ‘fresh strawberries Illinois’ into Google.
The fact is that 46% of all Google searches have a local intent, and 28% of these searches have a local intent that leads to a purchase.
This means that almost half of the people who search for something on Google are looking for something in their neighbourhood.
But how do you get to the top of Google?
- SEO optimisation: use relevant keywords, make your texts easy to read and add new content regularly. Read more tips about SEO in our help centre.
- Create a free Google Business Profile: this is essential for making your business easier to find on Google and Google Maps.
- Make sure your website loads quickly: According to Google, more than 50% of visitors leave a website if it takes longer than 3 seconds to load.
Growth starts with trust
Building trust is essential in the early stages of your business. Visitors coming to your website don’t know you yet and won’t do business with a website that doesn’t seem trustworthy. Here’s how you can increase your visitors’ trust:
- Show who you are: Create an About Us page and show the face behind your company. People like to do business with people. Transparency about who you are will certainly strengthen trust.
- Share customer reviews: Ask family or friends to place an order and then ask them to write a review about the ordering process or the products themselves. Especially in the beginning, it is important to have reviews to convince hesitant visitors of your products/services.
- Consistency in your branding: A consistent look in colours, logo and tone of voice ensures recognisability and professionalism. This consistency contributes to building brand trust and recognition.
How to approach it wisely as a beginner
A successful website starts with simplicity and clarity. Instead of having an abundance of pages, it is more effective to use a clear structure. A basic structure with pages such as ‘Home’, ‘About Me’, ‘Webshop’ and ‘Contact’ provides visitors with a clear overview of your website.
A logical and user-friendly website contributes to a better user experience and increases the chance that visitors will find what they are looking for.
A good website naturally also requires choosing an appropriate design. Webador offers a wide range of designs that you can customise to suit your style. Take the time to select a suitable design that reinforces your brand. If you change your mind later, it is very easy to change the design.
And remember: keep your website simple. A clear design will automatically guide visitors to the right place!
Furthermore, building your online visibility is a process that requires time and consistency. Instead of tackling everything at once, it is more effective to proceed step by step. By working in a focused and structured manner, you will gradually build a strong online presence.
Conclusion
Can you picture it? That potential customer who finds your offer through Google, or that visitor who immediately trusts your company thanks to your professional website?
A strong online presence is a real investment for your company in this digital world. So go for it! Start with a clear website, show yourself and be consistent online.
Hopefully, you now understand why an online presence is important and how you can approach it smartly as a start-up!
