10 Reasons Why Every Startup Needs a Website
Last Updated: By TRUiC Team
In today's digital world, what's the first thing you do when you want to look up a startup, business, or product? You pop their name into a search engine, right? If no results come up, you're likely deterred from dealing with that brand because, as far as we are concerned, every business should have a digital footprint.
That's certainly not the only reason that a website is a vital tool for startups, though. So, if you still aren’t convinced that you need a website, read on because we've rounded up the top 10 reasons why every startup needs a website.
Recommended: The GoDaddy website builder is an excellent choice for most startups. Get started with GoDaddy today.
Why Startups Need a Business Website
There are many ways that you can cut costs as a startup founder, but a website should not be one of them. From credibility to low-cost marketing, here are some of the most important reasons you need a website for your startup.
1. You Can Establish Credibility and Professionalism
There's a very good chance that several companies will offer a similar product or service to yours. One of the best ways to stand out is by having a website that is sleek, professional, and clearly communicates with your customers. If you don't have a website, prospective customers or investors may question your credibility and legitimacy. By having a website, you can make a great first impression and reassure people that you are safe to deal with.
2. You Can Increase Your Customer Reach
Having an online hub for your startup can dramatically increase the number of customers you reach and therefore improve your sales. When prospective customers find you online, they know where to find you again. From your website, they can get contact information and product details that may be the difference between the customer going elsewhere and you getting the sale.
In the process of building your own site and need some inspiration? Check out our curated list of the best startup websites.
3. You Can Attract New Customers Through SEO
Search engine optimization (SEO) helps you grow organic traffic and rank higher on search results. The aim is to appear on the first page of the results when a search engine user searches for a term related to your business. By having a website and content on that website (referred to as on- and off-page SEO), you can increase your exposure to prospective customers or investors.
4. Websites Are Easy to Create Today With Helpful Tools Available
Your budget will be super important as a startup founder, but a website does not need to break the bank. Today, there are many great, affordable tools available online to help you build your own website without a stitch of coding experience. Tools like GoDaddy, WordPress, and Wix provide templates and plugins which turn website building into something anyone can do.
5. It’s an Accessible, Low-Cost Form of Digital Marketing
Until your brand puts down roots, marketing is going to be one of your highest costs. A website, however, when done correctly, can be a low-cost form of digital marketing with a high return on investment (ROI). If the digital space is going to be a large part of your marketing plan, then you really want to get your website going ASAP. This way, when you start to run targeted campaigns, you can include this historic traffic too.
6. A Website Can Help With Foundational Brand Building
Building your brand is one of your core tasks as a startup founder, and one of the foundational aspects of that can be in the digital realm in the form of a website. A website is a great canvas to paint with all the elements that represent your brand — colors, logos, mission statements, language usage, and the like. The sooner your prospective customers and investors start associating these elements with your brand, the better.
7. You Can Use Your Website as a Walkthrough of Your Product
Depending on what industry you're in and what your product or service is, your website can be a really great place to provide prospective customers with a walkthrough or demo of what they can expect from your offering. Short videos, downloadable sneak peeks, and interactive 3D mockups can help hook a customer on the product you're selling from the comfort of their own home or office.
8. It's a Place to Provide Social Proof to Your Prospective Customer
Often, there is no greater sales tool than the word of another that your product or service really is great. Social proof like reviews, customer testimonials, and endorsements from well-known brands or individuals can make all the difference in legitimizing your fairly-new startup. There's no better place to put that than on your website, where your customer can be wowed by the review and then make contact right away.
9. You Can Combine Your Website With Other Online Tools to Improve Your UX
Tools like Google Maps can be easily integrated into your website to improve your customer's user experience. If face-to-face interaction is a big part of your business, you want to make sure people can find you, and an easy link to directions can help immensely. Other tools like affordability calculators or shipping extensions can also be easily integrated into your website and make all the difference to your customer.
10. Your Website Can Help Link to Investment Databases
This one is particularly important for startups. Many investors use databases to find startups that match the criteria they've set for their investments, and those databases link to these startups' websites. If you don't have an online footprint, you could be losing out on vital capital for your startup.
Recommended: Build a startup website today with GoDaddy!
