On the 18th of August, we launched the first webinar in our new and exciting webinar series. Our free webinar was all about owning a website and why it’s so important for modern businesses. If you weren’t able to join us, we have summarised five of the key takeaways from the discussion below. WEBPRO’s website developers are always available to speak to you about a website you have in mind. Don’t hesitate to pick up the phone or drop us an email soon if you’re considering a new website.

#1: Almost every business needs a website

It’s extremely rare that a business won’t need a website. Owning a website is no longer just about having a platform to sell products and services. It’s about authenticating you as a legitimate business that is still operating and gaining the trust of consumers.

Websites can simply be a place where your business provides information, which reduces low-quality enquiries and saves your staff valuable time. Moreover, everything should point back to your website. Think of it as a central hub where all your business materials and online marketing redirect traffic to create an effective sales funnel.

#2: Websites don’t have to be an expense – they can make money!

Some businesses are reluctant to get a website because they see them as an expense rather than what they can be – an asset to increase sales and quality leads. This is most common when the business is already successful without a website, typically because they generate business through repeat clients and word of mouth.

But when a website has been well developed with the business’s industry and target market in mind, it can be very effective at getting seen and making a difference to the bottom line. This is true even when the website isn’t set up to sell; even a simple and professional presence can verify the business and motivate site visitors to enquire.

Remember, you might have a successful business without a website, but you’re not seeing how many prospective clients you’re missing out on without one.

#3: Template vs bespoke websites

During our free webinar, we discussed the important differences between template websites and bespoke websites.

A template site is a website that has been created using a templated design. A web developer will use a pre-made template and tailor the website to the business’s needs and branding. Some aspects of the website will be fixed and cannot be changed, whereas other parts will be customisable to the needs and preferences of the business.

Template websites are cheaper and take less time to make compared with bespoke websites. Some people can even try to make their own template website using popular platforms, but this isn’t recommended if you want to compete in your industry.

A bespoke website is a website where every aspect of the site is made specifically for the business. Everything is customisable and the website can easily be scaled up as the business grows, which isn’t always possible with template sites. If you want to know which type of website is ideal for your business, speak with our team now!

#4: The importance of website responsiveness

As of 2020, mobile phones account for just over half of global internet traffic. This means there is more chance that someone will visit your website from their smartphone than any other device. Your website needs to adapt to this (growing) trend and be responsive on smaller screen sizes. If your website isn’t responsive, it is unlikely that the visitor will hang around long and you could lose out on sales.

Search engines recognise the need for websites to be responsive across device types, which is why they implement a mobile-first approach. If your website isn’t mobile-friendly, the search engine will place your website at a lower position on Search Engine Result Pages, causing you to attract less attention.

#5: Your business will be judged on website quality

Did you know that 75% of people form an impression on a website because of how it looks, and a staggering 94% of impressions about a website are related to its design? There is no doubt that in modern terms, your website is your digital shop window and how it is organised and arranged really matters.

The most important aspect of website design is that it makes things easy for the user. Website navigations should be efficient and the website content should be easy to take in. If you get this wrong, visitors won’t stick around to learn more about your products and services.

Don’t miss our next webinar!

If you didn’t catch our first webinar, make sure not to miss the next one. Our second free webinar will be discussing website content and how to make it work hard for your business.

You can register your free spot by heading to our events page!