I am opening a jewelry boutique with my business partner in June. We both know that we need to have a website, but we don’t have the time and money to get a site up. Do you think it is a good idea to wait until after the business is opened and making money to work on the website or is this something we should do now?
– Lula Verga, Barcelona, Spain
Congratulations on starting the business! When you are starting a business, you have to see certain things as a long-term investment in your company, and not just an added expense. Having a business website in today’s competitive market is one of those investments. When most people first hear of a business, the first thing they do is Google it because people decide whether or not to do business with you that way.
Having a website today is about making that first impression. Launching a professional looking website before the business officially opens only benefits your company. For one thing, a website establishes your credibility when users are comparing you to competitors. Secondly, websites act as online brochures and showrooms today, so you can build momentum and generate buzz for your services and products by developing a customer base in a niche market before you officially open. Also, pretty much anyone on the planet who has access to the Internet could become your customer, which can widen your customer base. A pre-launch website can also help you do market research through online customer services that help fine-tune your marketing plan before the official launch.
Based on case studies done with many customers of Global Wire Design, businesses that have pre-launch websites usually do better in sales long-term than businesses that waited until after the company launch. This is one of the main reasons a business should hire a professional web designer because they can help you create an online marketing plan centered around your website.
When you wait until after the business has opened to launch a website, your company misses out on some of that new business buzz online. When you don’t have a website, it is as if your business doesn’t exist because most customers today have a “digital first” mentality. If money is really a barrier for starting a pre-launch website, you would be better off just having at least a landing page with basic information about your business and opt-ins for email/social media sign up, which is more affordable and useful than not having a website at all. At a later date you can improve on the landing page to build out a website.
Again, a website is a long-term investment in the future of your business, not an expense.
Have a question? Email us at info(at)globalwireonline(dot)org with “Ask Global Wire Associates” in the subject line.
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