It’s the age of
social media, and every business with an online presence has a Facebook page or an Instagram account. However, the advent of social media has made some businesses forgo building their websites. You may question whether websites are still important and consider the website vs. social media debate. We’re here to tell you that a website is essential and should not be overlooked. The following are some of the many advantages of websites.
Websites Enhance Credibility and Trust
Your business may have a Facebook page, but that isn’t enough. In today’s digital age, every business must have its own website. A website is important because it establishes credibility and authority. Without a website, consumers may doubt a business’s authority and go to competitors instead. In fact, the 2019 Edelman Trust Barometer Special Report discovered that
81% of customers say trust in the brand is an essential deciding factor in buying from the brand. Thus, whether you’re a small business or a larger company, a website is a must because it legitimizes your business and ensures consumers can find relevant information.
When you have a professional website, you’re more likely to get leads who convert. A social media profile may be temporary, but a website is a permanent online presence for you where you can cater to potential customers. Since creating a website is straightforward and affordable, there’s no reason not to take the plunge and benefit from the many advantages websites offer.
Website vs. Social Media: Which Is More Important?
When it comes to a website vs. social media, both are essential components of your digital marketing strategy, and neither should be overlooked. While both websites and social media generate leads for your company, there are some ways in which websites are superior to social media. In addition to your website being permanent, you don’t have to worry about a platform’s rules and formatting. Because of this, you have full creative control and don’t have to adopt a cookie-cutter format that others might. Whether it’s a portfolio, e-commerce store, or customer feedback, a website is completely yours to do as you please. This isn’t the case for social media.
Websites help customers find your company. Use an
effective SEO strategy and provide value-added information to attract people to your website. Once they’re there, you can use CTAs, discounts, and other offers to help them convert. Websites also promote your goods and services. Businesses can create landing pages that target specific products or locations to ensure customization.
Websites also provide companies with actionable data they can use to develop their marketing strategies. For example, if e-commerce sales for a company show that Product A is selling more than Product B, they can plan discounts and offers accordingly. Since
64% of marketing executives agree that data-driven marketing is a huge factor in success, it’s essential to use this data from your website. Whether it’s tracking the number of visitors, bounce rate, conversions, or the amount of time spent on different pages, this data can inform your strategy going forward.
Of course, while a website is important, social media is also an essential tool in your arsenal. Social media excels at letting brands connect with their followers. This kind of engagement and brand awareness is essential for success. Whether it’s sharing valuable information, responding to queries, liking comments, or re-posting user-generated content, this positive engagement will have an impact on brand perception.
Social media also generates leads since followers who discover you on social media can visit your website, making them more likely to convert. Another area social media excels in is brand awareness. Being active on different social media platforms allows companies to express their values and ideas and humanize them.
Lastly, while a website is great for showcasing your products and services, social media is essential for sharing content. This could be original content, content repurposed from other platforms, or even user-generated content. Yet, this content could make inactive followers dedicated or encourage them to convert. This could be making helpful videos on YouTube, short tutorials on TikTok, or images on Instagram. Sharing content also helps you build an identity as an authority in your particular field.
Thus, there’s no straightforward answer when it comes to a website vs. social media. Both should be focused on since each tool has its advantages. Social media results in engagement and interaction, while websites generate leads and build authority. Use both to further your brand and grow your business.
The Internet Is a Directory, and Your Website Is a Marketing Channel
The internet is a directory. If you optimize your website, you can show up as a top result on Google and capture leads. Even if consumers weren’t looking for your business specifically, they may investigate further and convert. Social media is not a replacement for this direct marketing channel, where you can ensure leads follow through the sales funnel from awareness to the interest stage. Your website is where potential customers first find you. Thus, it’s the first impression for any potential customer and allows you to convert them into customers.
If you want to drive sales, a website may be your best tool. As of 2019,
70-80% of consumers researched a product online before buying it. If you don’t have an online presence where consumers can browse your products or services, you’re losing out to competitors with websites. Additionally, since a website is available to view at any time, your information is always available to potential clients.
Why Wouldn’t You Want Your Brand Online?
With individuals spending more time online than ever before, it’s necessary for brands without an online presence to set up professional websites. Social media marketing may be taking off, but websites are still important. From creating first impressions to ensuring credibility and authority, a website is essential for every business, regardless of size.
We hope this article helped you understand the different advantages of websites and how you can use websites to boost brand awareness, sales, and, ultimately, revenue. Once your website is up and running, invest in
digital marketing services to take your business to the next level. Reach out to us at Words Sell
here to get started.
