“Thanks, I don’t need a website…I work with the same clients over and over.”
“Most of my clients don’t use the internet, they find me through word of mouth.”
“My industry doesn’t use Google Business Profiles”.
You might currently believe these statements, or have even said them to a marketer before, but let’s explore why that thought process may be holding you back. When it comes to a small business building their digital presence, they may not know where to begin, they’re overwhelmed with information they haven’t heard or don’t understand, and it can be difficult to rely on an expert in a field that you have zero experience in.
As a fellow small business, we understand where you are coming from. This is why we pride ourselves in truly partnering with our clients – aiming to educate and equip instead of overwhelm and dominate conversations.
In this blog post, we’re going to chat through a few of the myths you may currently believe about having an online presence for your business, and will also aim to help you take your first steps in setting your business up for long-term success in a digital age.
The Ironic Truth About Online Searches
When you have a question these days, where do you start? Do you go straight to Google, Bing, or Safari? Did you say, “Hey, Google!” “Hey, Alexa!” or “Hey, Siri!”??
The irony hits you hard – you’ve just relied on one of the main tools for finding answers, but you believe your business doesn’t need an online presence?
According to a notable article found in Forbes, a business’s online presence, regardless of industry, can have a massive impact on its success. If someone is new to your industry, the first place they’re going to start to try to find answers to their problems is an internet search. Would you prefer they find you, or your competitor?
A Client’s Experience: Moving from Skepticism to Success
At Shout It Out Design, we know how you feel – really. Each client brings a “new to us” field or industry. We spend weeks researching and learning about each client’s field of expertise – because now we have the privilege of sharing with the world exactly what our clients do best, and we want everyone to find you when they are seeking their next solution.
When Clark with Dayton Acoustics, Inc. originally came to us for a website, he believed the only reason he needed a site was to appear more legitimate to newer team members at the companies that he was already working with. After 40+ years serving the Dayton area, he never believed that he would gain any new business from his website.
His website was up for less than six months before he received his first new client solely because they found his website by searching for his services on Google.
Nearly five years has passed since his site launched, and Clark regularly reaches out to us every couple of months to let us know about a new project he landed because someone found him online. He’s even had repeat business now from the customers that found him by visiting his website.
Also, a slightly unrelated benefit? Clark used to get constant calls before from people thinking that “Dayton Acoustics” was an acoustic guitar business. While he still might get a random one-off call every now and then, he has seen the amount of confused customers drastically decrease, saving him time from having to explain they provide acoustical walls and ceilings, not guitars.
Clark’s journey isn’t unique; it’s one of many we’ve had the pleasure of being a part of…
- The City of Springfield found that the way they organized content on their old site wasn’t the way their community members were searching for information.
- Blindspots in Sales realized their service was lost in their old website and kept getting overlooked. Now they have a dedicated domain where people can easily learn more and take the next step.
- Countyline Co-op’s old website design was so outdated it didn’t even work properly on a cellphone, stopping potential customers dead in their tracks from continuing to learn more about their business.
- Young’s Jersey Dairy had so much information on their website, no one knew where to go once they got there! Now, their information is not only organized, but also presented in a creative and fun design that matches their brand.
Those clients, and more, came to us with a preconceived notion about who they thought their customers were and how they were reaching them. After extensive research, planning, reorganizing, rewriting, and developing a site that truly matches their personality and speaks to their core audience, our clients experience a true transformation in how they operate in the digital space. They reach more customers, increase their authority in their industry, and ultimately drive more sales.
Online Presence and Learning Resources
Now that we’ve discussed the importance of websites, let’s connect that to the broader range of services we offer. Here’s where the online presence part comes in:
- OPE! Here’s A Little Marketing For Ya!: 4 Things Every Small Business Can Do To Prepare for Their 2023 Digital Marketing (Part 1) is a fantastic starting point for your learning journey.
Over the past few years, Shout It Out Design has produced over 30 podcast episodes addressing frequently asked marketing questions. These resources provide valuable insights that can help you understand the significance of establishing a strong online presence and how to navigate the digital landscape effectively.
Focus on Your Business
We’d like to share a final thought on why you need a website. John Young, the owner and founder of Shout It Out Design, believes clients should focus their time and resources on their business, not worry about whether their website is mobile-optimized, if their Google Business Profile is correct, or if their social media marketing is connecting with the right audience.
The more time our clients can spend improving their business for their customers, the more successful we will all be in the long run. If you’re ready to partner with a digital marketing team that listens, encourages, and delivers, let’s get in touch.
