Maximising Your Online Presence: Why Sole Traders Should Prioritise Websites Over Social Media
As the world continues to move towards a more digital space, the importance of having a website for your business cannot be overstated. While social media is a great tool for reaching your audience, relying solely on social media platforms can limit your online presence and hinder your growth. In this article, we will discuss why sole traders should have a website instead of only using social media, and the benefits that come with having one.
Benefits of a Website over Using Only Social Media
Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are excellent for marketing and promoting your business. However, they are not designed to be a replacement for a business website. Here are some of the benefits of having a website over relying solely on social media.
- Control over your online presence
Having a website gives you complete control over your online presence, including how your brand is presented, the content you publish, and how your audience interacts with your business. With social media, you are at the mercy of the platform, and any changes they make can affect your visibility and reach.
- Trust Signals and Reviews
A website allows you to display trust signals such as testimonials, reviews and other indicators of trustworthiness that can help build credibility with potential customers. While social media platforms offer some of these features, they are often buried within the platform, making them harder to find.
You'll also find that visitors or potential buyers would have more trust in you and your business if you have a stronger online presence, meaning that you're not only on all of the applicable social media networks, you also have a website that will re-assure visitors that you're serious and mean business.
This is due to the fact that anyone can create their own business page on social networks and start trading however, if you were to have a website too - this would further reassure people that you're a credible and professional business.
- Brand Proposition
A website is a great platform to showcase your brand's unique proposition and differentiate yourself from competitors. You can use your website to tell your story, highlight your values, and showcase your expertise in your industry. Social media, on the other hand, is primarily designed for short-form content and may not be the best platform for telling your brand's story.
- Cost-Effective Marketing
Having a website allows you to leverage search engine optimisation (SEO) to drive traffic to your site. By optimising your site's content and structure for search engines, you can attract organic traffic from potential customers who are actively searching for products or services like yours. Social media platforms also offer paid advertising options, but they can be expensive, especially for small businesses.
- Cost
Creating a website may seem like an expensive proposition, but there are many affordable options available. Website builders like Wix and Squarespace offer easy-to-use templates that allow even non-technical individuals to build a professional-looking website. While social media is free to use, the cost of paid advertising can add up quickly, making it less cost-effective in the long run.
When you have a website and have invested in marketing efforts such as offline advertising (in-person), paid and SEO, all of the efforts will add up overtime and result in your website obtaining free traffic from organic sources over time, so even if you were to have a professional design your website - you would make your money back in due time (ROI).
Conclusion
While social media is a valuable tool for businesses of all sizes, relying solely on social media platforms can limit your online presence and hinder your growth. Having a website gives you control over your online presence, allows you to showcase your brand's unique proposition, and can be a cost-effective marketing tool. As a sole trader, having a website can help you reach a wider audience, build credibility with potential customers, and grow your business.
If you're a soletrader/freelancer who would like your own website, get in contact with our professionals today for your free website design quote.