Does My Small Business REALLY Need A Website?
You might be thinking, "I have Facebook, Instagram, business cards, flyers, I network in person… do I really need a website?!" With the constant pressure that social media is the ultimate marketing tool, it's a super common question.
If you’re like me (and most entrepreneurs), you already invest a lot of time getting your name out there. And you might even feel tired with all the running around, posting on this platform and that one… the endless cycle of trying to put up the right content that will finally get shown to your perfect customer.
The truth is, there’s no equivalent to having your own website. It’s WAY, WAY different than posting on social media, or having an Etsy store. Whether you’re considering building it yourself or hiring an expert, it’s not an insignificant investment for a small business. If you do it yourself, you’re paying in time (and frustration). If you work with a professional, you’re paying in a lot less time, but also money.
Ultimately, only you know the answer to the question of whether or not you need a website because only you know the ins and outs of your business. You know what makes your business tick, and where you want to go!
Let’s dive into some considerations about how a website could be a game-changer for your small business.
Story Time: A Hobbit Band Finds It’s Way to The Shire
A fun fact about me is that in addition to being a solopreneur web designer, I’m also a musician! As a person with ADHD, I thrive in all areas of my life when I make time to pursue my passions, and once I’m in, I’m all in (hyperfocus, hello!).
So typically, I spend my days and normal work week designing websites, consulting with small businesses and running my design business through Lark About Design Co. And in the evenings and on the weekends, I’m out there playing music, booking gigs and having a great time (often dressed as a Hobbit… no kidding!)
Although my music is a smaller portion of my income and time, it’s still a super important part of my overall wellbeing and happiness! And I think of my band as another small business that I’m at the helm of.
My band was playing out for four years before I finally made our website. That’s right. We purchased the domain name, let it lapse, then bought it again. COVID happened. We had an almost complete band lineup change. I moved three times. All before we had a website!
Why? It’s not that I didn’t have the skills to build a website. It’s not that a band website is a particularly complicated website to design.
It took that long because I kept hearing people say that bands don’t need websites. And I believed them!
I heard over and over that for small, regional acts all you need is a following on social media, some videos on YouTube, and maybe a pdf Electronic Press Kit to send out to venues. So we hobbled along on social media and cold emailing venues for four years, receiving a lot of silence in response. I heard (and believed) when other musicians would complain about nepotistic booking practices - resigning that it’s all just about who you know anyway.
But finally, I made the change. I wanted more for us, and I wanted to go for the venues WE wanted, not where we had existing connections. I wanted something more dynamic to send to venues, and a place to showcase our tour dates and unique style. I didn’t want to feel like some rando emailing them, begging for a gig. I wanted to show them that we are serious, we love what we do, and they’d be lucky to have us play at their venue and entertain their guests!
I wanted a website because it felt important to showcase the story of our band and what makes us unique - and a story that’s shown through design as much as it’s heard through the music or told through written word!
I wanted the first thing that the booker of a venue saw to be us. Not a reel that performed poorly because I accidentally posted it on a Friday night instead of scheduling it for Monday morning. I didn’t want bookers to go to instagram to see our content, get distracted by something else on instagram and click away only to forget all about us and never get back to me (just me?!).
So I created a simple website for us, put up our gig dates so we’d look active, some pictures, a contact form and a newsletter signup. I included our website every cold dm and email.
The difference was immediate - and huge! We are busier than ever.
We went from playing one gig a month to 10+. Truly, as many as we want most months!
We now have venues and individuals reaching out through our website every week to book us to play. We sell merch through our website. We have a repertoire so people can make requests at live shows and we’ll even do celtic karaoke. We’ve played not one, but THREE different Hobbit parties (this is a dream gig for us!) because people can immediately see what we’re a great fit for!
And - this one’s a biggie - our email list has more than quadrupled, so we have a bigger draw at shows!
We simply would not be the band we are today, and the doors that have opened for us wouldn’t have if we had never put up a website!
So, though, not every business is a band, I think that if something as weird as a Cottagecore folk fusion band can benefit that much from a website, I think it’s totally worth evaluating whether or not you’ll benefit from one too!
Maybe, like me, you are listening to the people in your industry saying “nah - that’s a waste of time and money, what’s the point?”
And maybe, like me, you’ll find out that having a great website is exactly what you need to differentiate yourself from the pack and find your ideal clients!
Build Trust with Future Clients
A well-designed website is an incredibly powerful tool for building trust. It shows potential clients that you’re serious about your business and committed to providing quality service. It shows that you’re real, google-able, and other people know what you do, too!
For service providers: massage therapists, acupuncturists, therapists, handymen, coaches, consultants… If you are the beating heart of your business, your website is the best place for people to start to get to know you. Seeing your face, reading about you, learning about your values, services and reading reviews all help potential customers decide whether to reach out and work with you. By the time someone has found the contact form on your website, they probably already know that they’d love to work with you!
If you sell a physical product, knowing that your business has real people and that your product didn’t fall off the back of a truck or come from a nameless factory somewhere goes a LONG way in finding your ideal customers and letting them know why they should pick you instead of Amazon. Think of it as a digital passport. When people visit your site, they can learn about who you are, what’s important to you, and how what you do aligns with their needs—all on their own time. This transparency helps to establish credibility and reassures potential clients that you’re a legitimate and reliable business.
Your website is like your online passport… does yours have the stamp of trust?
People Can Find You Anytime! And Forever!
Unlike physical stores with limited operating hours, a website is accessible 24/7. This means that potential customers can learn about your products or services anytime, anywhere. It’s like supercharging your word-of-mouth marketing, ensuring every conversation about what you do has a lasting impact. This level of accessibility is particularly beneficial for small businesses looking to expand their reach beyond their local community.
Imagine gaining new clients or customers while you sleep! Seriously, waking up to an email from a dream client who found you overnight is a spectacular feeling as a tiny business owner. This rarely happens without giving someone the option to learn about your business on a website, on their own time.
Plus (and this part is HUGE) — your website is permanent. It’s not subjected to the fleeting whims of social media algorithms! That hour you invest in creating a reel or the perfect set of Instagram stories gets swallowed up by the machine and may not even be shown to who you want it to. In six months? Gone by the way of millions and millions of other pieces of content.
But! Spend an hour creating a blog post on your website, or honing a service offering page, and it’s still yours. It’s just as easy to find a year from now as it is tomorrow!
Although I still use social media marketing in my own business, I love the feeling of sustainability that I get when I invest time in my website. I know it belongs to me, and my efforts will be long-lasting!
It feels less like growing a lawn that gets chopped down every few weeks in a rental property, and more like growing a mighty forest on a gorgeous homestead of my own - these trees have deep roots!
Connect Better with Existing Customers
A website offers multiple ways to engage with your audience beyond social media. Features like blogs, newsletters, and contact forms allow you to interact meaningfully with your customers. By regularly updating your content and utilizing an email list, you can maintain an active online presence and build strong relationships with your clients. This helps you stay top-of-mind with people who already love what you do, ensuring they continue to support and engage with your business.
When you regularly post blog articles, it gives your existing customers a reason to keep coming back to your website. Whether it's tips related to your industry, updates on your business, or stories that resonate with your audience, fresh content keeps your brand alive and relevant in their minds.
Newsletters are another great tool for engagement. By sending regular updates, promotions, and valuable information directly to your customers’ inboxes, you maintain a direct line of communication. This not only keeps your customers informed but also makes them feel valued and connected to your business.
Contact forms make it easy for potential and existing customers to reach out to you. Whether they have a question, need support, or want to provide feedback, having a contact form on your website simplifies the communication process and enhances customer satisfaction.
Isn’t Social Media Enough? That’s Where Everyone Is Already…
While platforms like Facebook and Instagram can be important tools in your marketing toolkit for engaging with customers, they shouldn’t (and cannot) replace a dedicated website. Social media algorithms change frequently, which can limit your reach. You never really know if the people you want to be seeing your content are.
Plus, you don’t own your content or followership on these platforms, making your business vulnerable to unexpected changes. A website serves as a stable foundation where you have complete control over how your information is presented. This ensures that your most important content—writings, products, photos—never gets lost in the social media shuffle.
And it’s true. Fewer people will visit your website than see an occasional post as they're scrolling through Instagram. However, a single website visitor is way more valuable than a single view of your post on social media. Your website visitors are a small but mighty contingency. These are the people whose interest has been piqued enough to leave the comfort of their typical few websites they visit every day. Think of them as your super fans.
Not only are super fans good business, but I find it just feels better to engage with my website visitors than the faceless masses on social media.
Additionally, your website allows you to control the narrative around your brand. Social media platforms are cluttered with distractions, ads, and content from various sources. On your website, you can present a focused, cohesive story about your business without the noise of competing content.
Tell Your Story
Your website is a digital storybook that accurately reflects who you are, what you offer, and why you do it. When people ask you in conversation about your business, you’ve likely crafted a response over time. But how many times have you stumbled over your words, trying to tell your story just right? If you’re anything like me, the answer is… a lot.
A website captures that perfect narrative, giving potential clients that "aha" moment of understanding. It’s a powerful tool to convey who you are and what you do—no stumbling over your words this time! I want every website to read like a NYT Bestseller—not like an encyclopedia. When you put yourself in your customer's shoes right now, what is their experience like when they’re trying to understand you?
Your story is unique, and your website is the perfect platform to share it. Use your "About" page to give visitors insight into your journey, your mission, and what drives you. Share your values, your passion, and the reasons behind why you started your business. This personal touch helps build a connection with your audience and makes your business memorable.
A Website Could Actually Simplify Your Business
One reason I choose Squarespace for building my clients' websites is the incredibly useful range of integrated tools it offers. With Squarespace, you can manage your website, blog, client scheduling, newsletters, and invoices all in one place (and more, that’s just what I use!)
These integrations simplify your business processes, saving you time and effort. (Plus, as a Squarespace Circle member, I can pass on a 20% discount on any annual Squarespace plan! Pretty nifty!) Instead of juggling multiple platforms and passwords, you can focus on what you do best—growing your business. The less time you spend managing tools, the more time you have to get things done!
Squarespace offers an array of templates that are not only beautiful but also functional. These templates are designed to be user-friendly, making it easy for you to update and manage your site. Whether you need to add a new blog post, update your service offerings, or change your contact information, you can do it all with just a few clicks.!
So… Do I Need a Website?
For most people looking to grow their business and expand their network, the answer is yes. A website is a powerful tool that can help you reach and connect with more people outside of your immediate network. It provides a stable, controlled environment to showcase your business, build trust, and engage with the people who love what you do and actually want to see what you’re up to.
But ultimately, only you can answer this question for yourself! And I highly recommend everyone thinks through this question before they end up in DIY-hell (iykyk).
If you’re still unsure, let's chat! Schedule a free 30-minute consultation with me here.
I love helping people think through this question, because once you understand the unique reasons why you need a website, you’re on the right track to having a business that is perfect for you.
I hope this article gave you some food for thought on whether a website might be right for you. If you’re ready to make the leap, check out my Two Week Website & Brand - I love helping people with tiny businesses reach their dreams!
Keywords: Small business website, Business website design, DIY web design, Small business web design, Website for small business, Online presence for small business, Build trust with clients, Social media vs website, Tell your business story online, Squarespace web design, Website benefits for small business, Website strategy for small businesses
