Remember doing business before the internet? Back then, businesses focused on providing excellent in-person service and enhancing the store’s ambience to drive foot traffic. However, today’s digitalization means fewer people are going to physical stores. Instead, more people are browsing online to search for and purchase the product and service they need.
This increased reliance on the internet means it’s especially important for small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to have their own website. While most conglomerates have established their brand, most SMBs haven’t, making it especially important for them to have strong websites to increase their presence.
A well-designed website helps you build brand awareness and present the best possible first impression to potential customers. But you won’t reap the benefits unless your website is unique and tailored just for your company, and a custom website can do this for you. Here are four reasons why SMBs should consider custom-built websites over template-based ones.
Security
Customers won’t want to access your website and purchase any products or services from it unless it’s secure, and a custom website can ensure this. Many developers turn to fully customizable CMS platforms like WordPress and Joomla and use popular programming languages like JavaScript and C++ to ensure your website’s security.
A custom website is also compatible with top-grade firewalls and antivirus software that help mitigate future malware attacks. Your developer can also design your website so it encrypts confidential information like credit card and bank account details so hackers cannot easily gain access to your data.
Scalable platform
Every SMB wants a big, strong customer base and to become the leader in their industry. But without proper planning and preparation, increased traffic and new website features may bog down your site and ultimately give customers a bad experience.
Your developer can create a highly scalable website that can easily handle a large amount of traffic without sacrificing speed and uptime. Because the website is thoroughly tested and optimized for performance, you can add more attractive, value-added features to impress customers and give them a better browsing and shopping experience.
Unique website
More companies are closing their physical stores and setting their sights on the online market. This means the only way for you to create a lasting first impression and jump to the top of customers' minds is by having an attractive and unique website. Not only does a custom website help your business stand out from the rest, but it also attracts more leads and potential customers.
You'll want your website to be consistent with your company's brand image and marketing collaterals. For example, the color red and yellow will instantly remind you of McDonalds because the company has been consistently using those two colors in all their branding materials. You can also achieve the same results and have your customers instantly recognize your brand without them needing to see your name or logo by maintaining consistency across all your marketing platforms.
SEO optimized websites
One research found that 38.9% of worldwide e-commerce traffic came from organic and paid searches, but this is applicable only if your website is ranked high. SEO can help websites earn the top spot on search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing. But in many cases this can only be achieved if your website is custom-built.
Developers can make sure your website has the necessary tools for you to input things that greatly affect SEO like content, keywords, and its meta description. This will help your website rank higher and successfully attract and turn your leads into actual buyers.
Although investing in a custom website may be too much for SMBs due to its high costs, the benefits are clear. If you’re interested in a long-term marketing solution to grow your business, call Zentech I.T Solutions today.
