In some cases, the answer is no. (Wait, what?)
Let’s start here: it’s important – essential, even – that your business has a digital presence. Every year more potential customers turn to web and mobile tools to find businesses, whether they’re using a search engine, looking for recommendations on sites like Yelp or TripAdvisor, or checking the mapping app on their phone for the best Italian food nearby.
But not all digital presences are the same. Why would your business need anything more than a page on Facebook in today’s world? Let’s look at a couple of reasons.
The benefits of control
The biggest and most important benefit of having your own website is the control you have, both of the content you publish and the image of your brand with a custom web design.
Your website is a definitive place potential customers can go to find out information about your business straight from the source. Having your own site also means that you own your content; if a social network shuts down or if a service changes hands, what will happen to the content you’ve added there?
Your website also allows you to completely control your business’s image. The best website designs are engaging and make visitors feel something. A sporting goods company’s site can evoke the feeling of rafting down a river or climbing a rugged trail. An event promoter can make people feel as though they’re in the crowd. When was the last time you felt a strong emotion looking at a Facebook page?
A company website can be a great launchpad to tie together all the components of your digital presence. It can pull in posts from social networks, reviews from recommendation sites, and more. It can also be a springboard for custom functionality built specifically for your company.
What’s the best use of your budget?
The key question for any project is simple: what’s the best way to achieve your goals while staying in your budget? For many companies, a website with a custom web design is the way to go. For some companies it may be better to improve their search engine presence. Maybe a social media presence with advertising is the best way to go.
However you build your digital presence, choose a partner who will do what’s right for your individual business.
