1) Your customers are online—Even if your company isn’t online, your customers use the Internet to make shopping decisions and find out more about a business. If they can’t find you, you may lose clients to competitors. “You have to be where your customers are

A good website is easy to find on search engines, ranking high when people search for your products online. It should also be visually attractive and easy to navigate. Visitors should be able to find what they’re looking for without a lot of scrolling or clicking.

2) You can reach new markets—A website is an important tool even if you’ve got enough customers for the time being and aren’t seeking new ones. What if you lose a core client? A site can help you attract new business. Tracking data on your web visits can also help you understand your market.

3) It’s cost-effective marketing—The Internet provides relatively cheap marketing.  “A website is like a sales rep who’s out there 365 days a year. And a good site can make a small company look like a major player.”

The power of online marketing is the data you get when visitors come to your site and social media properties. It lets you fine-tune your efforts to target your customers more effectively. That’s why it’s important to continually monitor your traffic to see which content gets the most attention and to optimize your efforts accordingly.

4) It cements your brand—A website should be a cornerstone of your branding. It’s an excellent place to explain to customers why you exist, how you’re different from the competition and how you can give them what they need. To get the most benefit, take the time to create a detailed marketing plan to help you develop your brand, position your company and attract customers.

5) You can attract mobile customers—It’s not enough these days just to be online. Your site also needs a mobile-friendly version. There’s a good chance customers will look for you on a mobile device, not a desktop. And search engines rank sites higher if they have a mobile version.