It’s 2024 and your social media and word of mouth is bringing you in steady clientele… do you still need a website? Heck yes you do!

Things are already going so well, why do you need to spend money and time on getting a website launched?

1. Websites position you as a professional and separate you from the side-hustlers.

   Social media just doesn’t cut it anymore when it comes to having a professional online presence. Having a website will put you a step above a someone who just has a side gig or a hobby. It makes you look credible (we all know you are!). It essentially builds trust with your audience and is a safe platform for them to reach out and contact/book with you. Having a website shows that you’re serious about your business and that you’re sticking around and not going anywhere anytime soon.

2. You don’t own your social media.

   Think about all the time and effort you put into building your social platforms. It makes me want to cry (literally!) thinking about loosing it all. This happens every single day to small business owners. Your account could be shut down, blocked, or censored at any time, and there’s nothing you can do about it. Thankfully, if you have a website, you own it! You’re the only one who can shut it down, censor yourself or remove content.
   
   If you’re a service based-business that takes bookings through Instagram or another social platform, I highly recommend getting a website with booking software as soon as you can.
   
   Story time! I used to get my nails done monthly with a nail tech that ran her business from her apartment. She had great social media presence and that’s how I found her. BUT she did all of her booking through Instagram. She told me a horror story about one of those days that Instagram had a crash and she couldn’t access anything. She had a full day of clients booked but because she couldn’t access her instagram account to message them and buzz them up to her apartment building, she was out a full day of work and then had to find time to reschedule six clients. Not only that, but think about all the time she spends messaging clients to remind them of their appointments and trying to keep track of her schedule from Instagram messages. There is a better way.

3. You can be found on Google and you’re not limiting your marketing.
   With a website you have things like SEO (search engine optimization), copywriting and branding that allow your website to be found online. People can find you on Instagram or Facebook but you are still limiting your reach to people who are engaged on that specific social platform. You can learn SEO as a skill (or hire someone) and not rely on the algoritm.

4. Websites are where you are going to make the sale.
   Think about the steps you take when finding a business on social that you want to buy from or support. What comes next? You usually head to their website and connect with them via contact form or purchase a product directly from their website. Other than my nail lady (there are exceptions), this generally is how it works. You website works like a sales funnel and it will be your strongest marketing tool.
   

Long story short, get yourself a website. There are so many options and platforms available to you these days that make creating a website so much more accessible.

If you’re just starting out, DIY your site. It is better to get something up than not have anything at all. Use the templates and you’ll be able to create something great. If you’re not quite ready to invest in a designer creating your site for you, there are lots of templates out there available for you to purchase as well.

Or if you’re ready to invest in a designer who has web design experience behind them, that is likely your best bet. They’ll be able to come up with a strategic plan for you site, implement basic SEO from the start and create something beautiful and functional you’ll be proud to share with the world.

I’m here to answer your questions on the best web platforms for you to get started!