Is Your Business 30 Years Behind?

It's hard to believe that in the 21st century there are still many businesses that don't take full advantage of the internet for their brand, a website is your own space online, your online shopfront and the heart of your digital footprint. To understand why a website is important and to see if your business is 30 years behind we first have to look at where it all started.

In 1989 Tim Berners-Lee conceived of and created the foundations of what we all now call 'the internet'. On August 6th 1991, the first-ever web page:http://info.cern.ch/hypertext/WWW/TheProject.html went live. Businesses were quick to exploit the benefits of having a website. Before there was even a web to host it on, Symbolics Inc, a computer manufacturer, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, registered the world's first .com domain. Many more would soon follow.

The mid-90s saw an enormous boom in the number of websites. Everyone from Lego to McDonald's had their own website, and most other major brands were joining them. The next Thirty years saw the internet grow and mature into what we use every single day.

After three decades of development and use, the internet has become essential in our modern lives. With this in mind, you'd think that having a website would be high on the list of priorities for all business owners, but this isn't the case. Surprisingly 36% of small businesses still don't have a website, and of those that don't, 41% don't see the value in having a business website. As mind-boggling as this seems, it is worth remembering that not all business owners understand the benefits of a website.

There are still businesses that don't yet realise that many potential customers look online to find their desired product or service. Studies have found that around 51% of consumers research their purchases online before buying. Having a website gives a business owner a 24/7 link to potential customers. So while a brick and mortar store or premises might be available 9 am to 6 pm, five days a week, a website allows customers to browse or even make a purchase 24/7.

Finally and most simply, having a website adds credibility to your business, it reinforces your brand and gives customers confidence in your brand. Consumers expect you to have a website and without one, it can give your potential customers and clients the impression that you are no longer in business. Having a poorly designed website can also be an issue, giving the impression that you don't care about your business, this is why we believe that a professional, mobile-friendly website is absolutely essential for all businesses.