Unlocking Business Success: The Vital Role of Having a Domain and Website Over Solely Relying on Social Media
We've often been asked about the necessity of a business website when creating a social media page seems so effortless. We understand the concerns surrounding website development, maintenance, and complexities that might deter clients from considering one. However, what some view as a weakness is actually a compelling reason to have a website. Let me explain.
The Power of Social Media: Good, but Is It Great?
An online presence is undeniably crucial, and signing up on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn is a step in the right direction. With nearly half the world's population on social media (approximately 3.196 billion people), the potential audience is vast. However, reaching them often relies on targeted and paid advertising.
While a well-crafted social media strategy, engaging content, and paid advertising can capture the attention of potential customers and boost brand visibility, there are limitations.
Social media operates like word-of-mouth, amplified on a global scale. When used effectively, it can reach thousands or even millions of interested audiences. However, it can also lead to spending significant time on content creation that yields minimal engagement.
Like caring for a pet, social media demands constant attention and interaction. Without daily monitoring and engagement with your audience, loyalty can wane.
Furthermore, social media platforms are saturated with similar businesses, making it challenging to stand out and impeding your business's growth.
Moreover, negative posts can quickly spread, potentially damaging your business's image. Control over the information on social media is limited compared to having a website.
Additionally, relying solely on a social media page doesn't convey a sense of ownership. The platform controls content based on its terms and conditions.
In summary, while social media offers valuable benefits for business success, limiting your online presence to these platforms only scratches the surface.
Your Domain, Your Rules
Having a website provides full control and ownership over your brand. It allows you to showcase exactly who you are, your purpose, and what differentiates your business from others.
Customers expect credible companies to have a website, and establishing one demonstrates dedication and professionalism, instilling trust in potential customers.
Unlike a social media page, a website isn't limited to sharing information; it enables direct transactions, much like a physical store. Your domain becomes your 'online real estate,' an enduring business asset. It provides stability even if social media platforms change their terms and conditions.
In summary, while we acknowledge the benefits social media brings, relying solely on it won't maximize your company's potential. A website isn't merely a supplement to your social media presence; it serves as the foundation for your business's online success.
At Brightsand Designs, we understand the significance of a well-crafted website in unlocking your business's true potential. Our expertise in website design and development can help you create a compelling online presence that resonates with your audience. Let us guide you in building a website that showcases your brand's unique identity and drives success in the digital world. Together, we can take your business to new heights.
The Vital Role of Online Presence: Why Taking Your Business Online Today is Essential
As COVID-19 continues to impact businesses of all sizes, being prepared for the present and the future is crucial. In these unfortunate circumstances, establishing a strong online presence with a capable website that supports online sales has become more relevant than ever.
Consider Online Traffic
Traditionally, customers visited physical stores to make purchases, but the current quarantine situation has drastically reduced foot traffic. However, online traffic is on the rise. To adapt to this new wave, setting up a website with the necessary e-commerce capabilities is the logical solution for your business to start operating again.
Maintaining Momentum
Having a robust online presence and e-commerce site not only allows your business to continue operating but also helps maintain meaningful relationships with loyal customers. Additionally, going online opens up opportunities to reach a broader audience, extending your business's reach and customer base. Don't just hope for the best; proactively keep your business momentum going.
Accessibility
While a social media presence is valuable for engaging existing followers, having an e-commerce website takes accessibility to a whole new level. Overcoming challenges in competing with global competitors becomes possible by providing products and materials locally instead of relying on overseas suppliers. However, without an e-commerce website, your supply may not reach its full potential.
Simply getting your business online with a well-designed website can help your business flourish despite the current predicament of COVID-19. Remember, this won't be the last crisis to impact consumer behavior, so preparing your business for any future challenges is essential.
At BRIGHTSAND Designs, we are dedicated to making your business's online transition easy and successful. Whether you're starting a new e-commerce design or refreshing your current one, we will provide the best strategy to benefit your business in the long run.
Adapting to this new economic shift may present challenges, but maintaining a business in spite of it is not impossible. The right mindset should be to "think physical distancing, not social distancing." Let us help you unlock the full potential of your business online and navigate these changes with confidence.
Navigating Business Growth during COVID-19: Strategies for Success in a Time of Corona
COVID-19 is testing us all. With the understanding that we might not be out of the woods for a few months or more, businesses of all sizes are struggling to find their place and footing in this challenging climate. In this article, we will provide brief but essential insights on how you can keep your business moving forward by building up your brand, protecting your staff, and staying true to your values during this time of coronavirus.
Connecting with Your Customers during a Crisis
Digital marketing has proven to be incredibly beneficial during this crisis, regardless of the type of business you run. As more people stay at home, they increasingly rely on online purchases and information gathering. E-commerce businesses, in particular, have experienced less impact compared to physical stores and services. Therefore, taking your business online or improving your online presence is crucial for growth and maintaining customer engagement. Maximizing your return on investment can be achieved by increasing website traffic, social media presence, and brand awareness through paid social and Google Ads.
Extending your budget to digital marketing has nothing but long-term benefits for your business. It may come with a few challenges, but it is a strategic and effective step that your business can rely on as we approach a 'new normal'.
Refreshing Your Brand and Improving Your Customer Experience (CX)
While honoring your values and authenticity at your core, businesses should consider pivoting their strategies during these times. This period of uncertainty allows for reflection on values and mission, leading to innovative ways to engage customers, employees, or clients.
Brand maintenance is important, but a brand refresh can make a significant impact. Utilize this opportunity to refresh your brand or website to prepare for the future. The increased online attention allows for making small or significant changes to enhance the customer journey. Tidy up your social media profiles and keep customers informed about what to look forward to with your products, services, or company updates. These seemingly small adjustments can steer potential and loyal customers in your direction.
If you feel overwhelmed and unsure about where and how to make these changes, we can help. Our team can assess your existing strategy, understand your challenges, and propose competitive solutions to maximize your website and online presence for your customers.
Remember, you don't have to go through this alone. Get in touch with our team at BRIGHTSAND designs, a full-service creative digital agency. We can help you build, create, and maintain long-term customer engagements and sales through online-driven solutions for your business. With our end-to-end creative and digital marketing services, your business can maintain momentum and reach customers despite the ongoing pandemic.
This pandemic is just a short-term phase in our timeline, and having a steady, long-term marketing plan is exactly what your business needs today. The sense of security will return, towns and cities will reopen, and people will carry on with their lives as if none of this ever happened. When that time comes, your customers will know EXACTLY where to go.
Unlocking the Power of WordPress: Four Compelling Reasons to Build Your Website with This Versatile Platform
COVID-19 is testing us all. With the understanding that we might not be out of the woods for a few months or more, businesses of all sizes are struggling to find their place and footing in this challenging climate. In this article, we will discuss the four primary reasons why WordPress is the number one website-building interface and how using this platform to build your website can save you a significant amount of money.
The Simplicity of the WordPress Dashboard
The main reason behind WordPress's popularity is its ability to meet the demands of many users with its flexibility. It boasts a user-friendly interface designed for non-tech-savvy users, allowing them to get started immediately by adding pages and posts to their site.
WordPress has a massive support ecosystem covering everything related to WordPress, including tutorials and a dedicated support forum. This means you not only maintain complete control over your site but also receive excellent support.
However, it's essential to distinguish between two types of WordPress websites. WordPress.com is a blog hosting solution, suitable if you don't have a domain and only want a blog. However, it has limited features. On the other hand, WordPress.org is a self-hosted platform, and this is what you'll need if you want your domain and hosting to build your website.
WordPress is Versatile
WordPress can be used in many different ways. Here's a list of limitless types of websites you can build with it:
- Blog or personal websites
- Business websites
- E-commerce sites
- Membership sites
- Business directory
- News portal
- Social network
- Job board
- Portfolio
- Forum/Community
- Auction & coupon sites
- Wiki/Knowledgebase sites
- Affiliate sites
- e-Learning sites
The list goes on, and all of these can be easily achieved with plugins and themes. For instance, if you want to create an e-commerce platform for your business, you simply install an e-commerce plugin like WooCommerce and apply a theme to make it look appealing.
With WordPress, you can also customize the look and feel of your website, something not easily achievable on other web platforms. Other drag-and-drop website builders may promise customization, but they are still limited to the available themes found on their platform and often come with a hefty subscription bill, costing you more in the long run.
Plugins
When it comes to adding features and functionality to your site, you'll most likely need a plugin for it. There are more than 55,000 plugins available, making up a massive ecosystem that outperforms all other content management systems. These include official extensions from its directory and many more offered by third parties.
It's Free and Open-Source
WordPress is open-source software that has been around since 2003, and it's free for everyone to download.
To get started, you'll need to purchase a domain name and web hosting.
Simply download WordPress from the WordPress.org website and upload it to your hosting to create your website. Many reputable hosts offer one-click installation buttons to get WordPress running within minutes.
Compare that to the cheapest ad-free plan of Wix, which costs $12.50/mo.
A domain name is the address of your website on the internet, such as brightsanddesigns.com. This is what users will type in their browser's address bar to view your website.
You cannot run a website without web hosting. It is the space allotted where you can store all your website files.
Think of it as the domain name being your address and your web hosting being your house.
We recommend using FastComet for great support and competitive pricing. We've used them for years, and their chat support and freebies are what sold us on using them. No regrets there!
We hope this article answered your questions. These are just four of the many reasons why WordPress is the ideal solution for anyone wishing to build a website. If someone asks you the same question, just send them our way.
Give it a try, and let us know what you think.