Are you looking for a more cost-effective way to market your business? Traditional in-person sales techniques are effective, but are slower, expensive and time-consuming.
Your website can be even better than having the best sales person at the table – plus, it never needs a break, works around the clock without payment and doesn’t take up office space. Read on as we explore why investing in your digital presence is worth every dollar!
Did you know that 28% of business is now conducted online?1 A shift that would have been accelerated through the pandemic years, and has cemented website habits for users.
1. 24/7 Accessibility For Your Customers
Running a business is no easy feat, but having a website can make it a lot less challenging. A website is available around the clock, unlike a salesperson who may be available only during business hours. Potential customers from different time zones or with varying schedules can access information about the product or service at their convenience.
Your website is always working, even when you aren’t. It can answer customers’ inquiries and educate them on your products or services, all while you catch some much-needed shut-eye. A website is essential, when you consider that 81% of customers investigate products and services before making a purchase2.
2. Reach The Masses
Consider this, 31% of websites on the internet have over 50,000 unique visitors monthly. 15% have over 100,000 unique visitors monthly3. A website can reach a global audience, something that would be impossible for a single salesperson. This expanded reach allows the brand to attract and engage with customers from all corners of the world, increasing potential market share. Even your best sales consultants could not try and compete with numbers like that.
With a good traffic strategy, you could reach the masses and have hundreds of thousands of people visit your website. And the best part? You don’t need a physical store with a limit on how many people can enter, nor do you need a team of security guards to manage the crowds.
3. Represent Your Brand Consistently
Half of internet users say that they use website design as a factor to formulate their opinion on a business4. Websites provide a consistent representation of the brand, regardless of the time or the visitor’s location. Unlike human salespeople, who may vary in how they dress, their moods, personal values, or individual interpretation of the brand, a website ensures that every visitor receives the same experience.
This consistency is crucial in building your strong brand image.
4. Connect With Customers On The Go
When people are on the go, they generally do not want to be bothered. Think about how often you’ve apologised to the sales staff from pop-up stores trying to approach you or share a sample of their newest product. However, people are very receptive to their mobile devices.
According to a website study, mobile devices generated 54.8 percent of global website traffic. These are potential customers who could be learning about your business offering and your services, whilst they are not at your physical store. Another staggering statistic predicts that mobile will account for about 44.2% of US retail ecommerce sales in 20255. If you want to grow your business potential and capitalise on this consumer traffic, it’s important to prioritise your website and optimise your mobile experience.
5. Provide Extreme Clarity
Your website is a helpful guide, directing new visitors to informative pages that enlighten and persuade. Customers can be quickly directed to helpful how-to resources within your blog or fact sheets for your products.
Your website can house an extensive amount of information, which can be organized for easy navigation and consumption. It can provide detailed product descriptions, high-resolution images, demo videos, in-depth case studies, customer testimonials, FAQ sections, and much more.
A salesperson may not have all this information at their fingertips or may forget to mention key details during a sales pitch.
6. Personalised Customer Service
It’s like having a personal sales assistant that is always on the clock, tirelessly working to educate and persuade.
An FAQ page can help answer 90% of your customer’s queries. But let’s face it, sometimes a customer needs more specific help. That’s where chatbots come in handy – they’re helpful, always available, and don’t require a salary or coffee breaks. In fact, the use of website chatbots has increased by 92% since 20196.
Your website doesn’t just have to be focused on selling, it can also provide personalised post-purchase aftercare, to really improve customer experience. Advanced technology allows websites to offer personalized experiences based on the user’s behavior, preferences, and past interactions. This kind of tailored experience can make the customer feel valued and understood, which can boost brand loyalty.
A great website will funnel visitors to sign up to your weekly newsletters and visit your blog, allowing your brand to build deeper relationships and grow a community of loyal visitors.
7. Show Off Your Social Proof
It’s no secret that social behaviour impacts our decision-making process. From deciding where to eat to choosing a service provider, we often rely on the experiences of others to inform our choices. This is where the all-important concept of social proof comes into play. By displaying customer reviews, past work, and case studies, businesses can build trust and show the value of their services.
Let’s face it, we all want to know what others think before investing our time and money. In fact, 85% of customers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations7.
So, if you’re looking to improve your conversion rate and showcase the worth of your business, adding these elements to your website is a no-brainer. As they say, the proof is in the pudding – or in this case, the reviews.
8. Accurate Analytics & Data Reporting
Websites can provide valuable data about visitor behavior, including most visited pages, time spent on the site, bounce rates, and conversion rates. You can identify the loopholes in your website and see what’s not getting through to your visitors. This data can provide insights for improving your message, and refining marketing strategies.
A salesperson’s interactions, on the other hand, might not yield such measurable or actionable data. Whilst a team might be able to provide feedback, it can often be subjective and harder to substantiate.
9. Can Last You A Lifetime
Hiring a good salesperson can take months, if not years. The worst part is they might only stick with you through a couple seasons, before their next life adventure hits.
Research shows an average website design build and launch can take only 3 months. Your website will also last you a lifetime, if you look after it8. While a good website involves an upfront investment, its maintenance cost is typically much lower than the cost of hiring, training, and compensating a team of salespeople.
The website also tends to have a longer lifespan and can reach more people, providing a better return on investment over time.
What’s The Takeaway?
Having a website is an essential part of your business’s sale pitch. With its 24/7 availability, cost-effectiveness, and reach potential, a website’s potential is exponentially growing.
It’s important to note that a website and a salesperson are not mutually exclusive but can and should work together to create a comprehensive brand experience. However, as customers increasingly turn to online sources for information and shopping, a brand’s website is becoming a crucial platform for brand representation and customer engagement.
With this combination, you can solidify not only your existing customer base but also attract new ones, with tailored experiences and offers specific to their needs. A website is the backbone in supporting sales strategies on a much grander scale and helping your customers find exactly what they are looking for, every single time.
References
- IBISWorld
- Oberlo
- HubSpot
- Google Research
- Insider Intelligence
- Drift
- Web Alive
- Forbes
