How Manufacturers can obtain business through their website

SEO

Every marketing agency will tell you that your website is the online shopfront for your business and your best asset for 24/7 marketing. No matter what time of day or night, your website offers consumers valuable insight into who you are, the services you provide and what you can do to help them. Take a look at our previous blog on How a cheap website can cost your business to further understand why websites – especially well-made ones – are essential for a thriving business.  

Forbes states, “A business’s online presence, regardless of industry, can have a massive impact on its success”. Forbes then goes on to discuss how having a website is absolutely essential to communicate with your target audience, arguing that while the quality of your website will impact results, having a website full stop is paramount.  

But why is a website so important?

• It provides information about your business  
• It gives your business credibility 
• It increases organic traffic 
• It’s important for branding 
• It increases chance of leads  
• It provides customer care/support  

Your website should show consumers exactly what it is your business can do for them, as well as guiding and directing consumers to relevant information, contact forms and ways of buying your products or services easily. A website gives consumers everything they need at their fingertips to make the decision whether to purchase with you or not.  

If you don’t have a website, you’ll attract fewer consumers and potentially see a decrease in repeat custom, too, since clients will choose a competitor that’s easier to access and navigate to in order to achieve their desired result.  

Manufacturing businesses vary largely in what they produce – and for new customers, your website will be their first port of call to learn more about you and what you offer. If you have no website, this will likely be the last time new clients look to use your business, as they will opt for a competitor that can give them what they are looking for online.  

Moreover, we are firmly in a digital age where consumers have an attention span of around eight seconds and make quick decisions regarding their purchasing habits. If your site is slow to load, buggy, visually unappealing or not user friendly, consumers will go elsewhere. So, you can imagine how little patience consumers have for businesses that do not have a website at all. Calling up and enquiring is no longer the norm; consumers want easily accessible information and quick access for purchasing your products or services, should they wish to.  

Below are some of the reasons why it is important for your manufacturing business to have a website.  

Information

If a consumer is debating using your services, your website is your most powerful tool in convincing them to use your business. Giving detailed and straightforward information to your consumers will help them to find out as much about you as they can in the simplest way possible. Having all the relevant information in one place will act as a vote of confidence, inspiring trust in you and your business, in addition to being likely to encourage a consumer to use your services. 

Credibility

Having a website increases your credibility. It is highly likely that there are several other businesses offering similar services to yours and one way to stand out is to have a website that communicates clearly with your customers, looks good and has all the relevant information consumers want to see.  

Without a website, consumers will question your business’s legitimacy and credibility. Your website is the best way to make a good first impression and convince potential online customers to use you and your services over competitors. Missing out on this opportunity to convert website views into business could result in a lot of lost revenue and lower levels of recognition. 

Organic traffic

Having a working website, optimised for SEO is the best chance you have at appearing on search engine results pages. Having a working website with content that has been optimised with keywords is the best chance you have at appearing on search engine results pages. When consumers are naturally drawn to your website because of the keywords it contains, they are more likely to make a purchase. However, in order to ensure that people click on your website organically, your website must contain the search terms they are looking for.  

Capturing organic and relevant traffic gives you the best chance at converting that traffic into sales. However, in order to catch that traffic, you need to have a working website to direct traffic to. It all starts with your website, making it an invaluable tool for every business. 

Brand 

Having a visible brand that your customers can access is one of the most important things you can do. Your website will clearly outline who you are, what you represent and what you stand for, which allows consumers to align with you and gives you a better chance of making a sale.  

Additionally, branding sets you apart from competitors. If you and a competitor offer similar services and similar prices, it will likely be your branding that helps them to make their final decision, as well as keep them as a customer.  

Leads 

Your website can greatly increase your chances of generating leads. Once consumers are aware of you online or become interested in a product or service, they’ll know where to find you and how best to contact you thanks to all the information laid out on your website. This gives you a valuable opportunity to convert those leads into sales. 

Customer support

For smaller businesses, customer service can take up a huge portion of your time. A functional website can partially ease the workload for this. Use your website to list all relevant information, such as opening times, services and customer service contact information, etc. This will save you time when dealing with frequent customer service enquiries, while also giving customers all the relevant information they need if they are unhappy or in need of assistance.  

Ultimately though, your website is your best chance of gaining, maintaining and converting sales and traffic. Your website is essential for providing information, offering your services to consumers and giving consumers one helpful place to access everything they need to know before deciding whether or not to purchase with you.  

If your manufacturing business has been losing out on sales and failing to grow, or if you’re keen to take the leap into the digital age and have an optimised, good-looking website built to convert, contact us today to discuss what the Sherbet Donkey team can do for you.