With the plethora of social media options available, it’s tempting to ask “Does my business need a website?” 

And while yes, it seems like a lot of work to get a website up and running, I’m going to walk you through seven reasons why it’s always worth the trouble. 

Do I need a website for my business? Yes, here’s why. 

Yes, websites can take time to get right. First, you’ll need to establish an excellent brand strategy and messaging, then you’ll need to hire a copywriter so your website copy actually converts (or get really good at DIY-ing it). Then you’ll need branding if you don’t already have it and a web designer. And the list goes on.

But these seven reasons are about to tell you why you absolutely need a website for your business, even when it takes a few steps to get there:

1. You don’t own your social media accounts

It is extremely tempting to set up a quick Instagram account or post some videos on TikTok and brush off actually building out your website. But you have zero ownership over your social media accounts. 

Sure, you get to decide what you post, but those companies are going to dictate the format, length, and content (to an extent). So you never really have free reign over what you post. 

Similarly, what happens if the social media site shuts down for a day, or forever? At the time of writing, there are still talks to ban TikTok in the US. Then, everything you’ve built will cease to exist. 

If you have a website, you can post whatever you want in whatever format works for you, easily move people to an email list for more direct selling, and still maintain complete control over your information. 

2. Having a website lets you take advantage of SEO

Social media sites have algorithms but they’re constantly changing and you’ll always be at the whim of the developers. Having a website means you can take advantage of search engine optimization through Google. 

Google’s search algorithm has remained relatively unchanged for the last few years and you’ll spend less time optimizing your site because you don’t have to constantly learn new best practices. 

Similarly, your potential customers are probably already using Google to look for solutions or ask questions. So, having your own website that explains the solutions you provide and answers common questions can help you rise in the rankings and thus be seen by more people. 

3. Having a website for your business builds your credibility

Have you ever found a brand on social media or in real life and tried to look them up online, only to find that it didn’t have a website? How did you feel? 

If you’re like me, you thought “Well, this can’t be legit,” before moving on to another alternative. In 2023, it’s expected that a legitimate business will have an informative, well-written website that answers customer questions. 

If you don’t have one, you’re only causing potential clients to question your credibility. 

4. It gives you more freedom in explaining your products and services

Having your own website gives you essentially unlimited space to explain your products and services to potential clients. Not that you SHOULD fill up pages and pages with text and images. 

But, the nice thing is that you have the option to display information in the most advantageous way possible without being subject to strict post sizes, video lengths, or other restrictions. 

On social media, you get a few tiny photos or short videos to explain everything. Websites give you full, expansive pages, endless video lengths, space for as many photos as you want, and everything in between. 

5. You can sell directly through your website

Website platforms come with the option to add a direct sales mechanism. So whether you’re adding an e-commerce option to your business or you sell exclusively online, having your own website is a no-brainer. 

Other platforms like social media and marketplaces like Etsy charge listing fees, seller fees, and other fees. But having your own website with a storefront gets rid of most of these unnecessary charges. 

Plus, once customers find you, they don’t always want to take the next step over to wherever your products can be purchased. So, having everything on your website makes the customer buying journey more seamless and less time-consuming – two things that customers want. 

6. Having a website allows you to reach a wider audience as a local business

While word of mouth and social media are great for local businesses, having a website for your business can be even better. Most customers use search engines to find new places in their area and having a website allows you to benefit from this. 

If you optimize your website for SEO, you could potentially outrank and compete with larger chain restaurants that have huge marketing budgets. So having a website is definitely a necessity. 

7. Websites allow you to easily display FAQ and increase customer service

Having a website for your business means you have the space and structure to answer all your customers’ questions. And when your customers feel like their questions are answered, they feel taken care of. 

It’s easy for FAQ to get lost on a social media page or somewhere else, so having a dedicated website page for it or for each of your products can be a great idea. 

You will save time too as clients won’t need to reach out as often to have their questions answered.

So, what’s the final say? Does my business need a website?

Yes, your website needs a business. It might be a decent amount of upfront work, but websites don’t require as frequent updates as social media, so you save some time in the long run. 

So, if you don’t already have a website, it’s time to build one for your business. And if you already have one but you aren’t seeing the results you want, it’s time to reach out to a copywriter to boost your conversion rate. 

Does your business have a website? Why or why not?