With the advent of multiple social media platforms and the continued dependence of businesses in Nigeria on social media traffic, coupled with Google’s AI overview and the increased competition for competitive keywords, most business owners question the need for investing in a decent website. They often ask themselves, “Does my business really need a website?” or “Can I make do with just having social media accounts and placing my contact information there?”
In this article, we answer this question by providing 10 reasons why your business still needs a website and social media accounts.
10 Reasons Why Your Business in Nigeria Still Needs a Website
1. Credibility and Professionalism:
Consumers still trust businesses with websites compared to those without one. Having a website communicates to your audience that you’re serious and can be trusted. Trust is a major necessity for any business, especially in service-based industries where your clientele’s trust drives your business. Not investing in a decent website significantly reduces your audience’s trust in your business.
2. Control Over Branding:
Your website gives you the ability to create and implement your brand style exactly as you want it, without getting limited by the rules and regulations of social media. For example, on your website, your tagline and description can be as long as you want, unlike the 150-character limit for Instagram bios. Additionally, with your website, you’re 100% in control of all changes and decisions, unlike on social media, where decisions can be made that affect your brand’s visibility and user experience at any time.
3. Improved Customer Experience:
A website enables you to provide a better experience for your customers. They can find in-depth information, such as pricing, features, product descriptions, support content, etc., all in one place, unlike social media, where they might have to scroll through multiple posts. On your website, you’re also able to improve the user journey by implementing a logical information architecture compared to social media.
4. Increased Visibility and Reach:
Engaging the services of an experienced search engine marketing agency in Nigeria to optimize your website for search significantly improves its visibility on search engines for relevant keywords, driving long-term traffic to your website, unlike social media, where posts are buried quickly.
5. Control Over Data and Analytics:
With a website, you can actively track and collect metrics that are important to you, beyond the limited metrics social media platforms provide. A combination of free analytics tools like Google Analytics and Microsoft Clarity helps you accurately track website traffic, visitor behavior, and conversion rates. As the saying goes, “What cannot be measured cannot be improved.” This increased data insight helps with making more informed business decisions. For example, you can see users searching for a particular product on your website and decide to restock it.
6. Building a Customer Database:
Websites allow you to effectively build a customer database through newsletters, lead generation forms, etc. These help you better segment your audience and actively build a better relationship with them, resulting in more conversions and revenue.
7. Greater Flexibility and Customization:
Similar to your home, with your website, you can customize it as you wish. You have the final decision on how pages look and can make decisions without seeking or needing external approval. Unlike social media, where you must be very careful to ensure you’re following the platform’s rules and regulations to avoid being banned.
8. Long-Term Asset and Investment:
With a website, if you continue to renew your domain and hosting and follow security best practices, you can be sure your website will stay up. Some companies have had the same website for over 20 years. Unlike social media, where your account can get shut down or, for one reason or another, you lose your URL, your website is a long-term asset. It will also continue to increase in value the longer it exists, and as long as you follow best SEO practices, its ranking will continue to improve. This is not the case with social media accounts, where the platform can decide to delete your followers due to audience reports or algorithm changes.
9. Improved Customer Trust and Authority:
Similar to the first point, a website enhances your reputation as a legitimate business and also provides you with the opportunity to further build trust by showcasing customer reviews, news mentions, awards, etc. A website also gives you the ability to inform the public about impersonation or fraudulent accounts on social media or any other schemes they should be aware of.
10. Competitive Advantage:
Your competitors likely already have websites, and not having one increases the competitive advantage they already have over you. Deciding to get a professionally designed website from a top website design and development agency in Nigeria increases your competitive edge and your chances of selection when your audience is reviewing options. Your website can also provide more details and resources to your customers, highlighting your unique selling points and giving you the opportunity to stand out from the competition.
Conclusion
So, to answer the question, “Does my Nigerian business need a website?” — the answer is yes, it absolutely does. You should invest in getting a decent website designed and developed. When deciding to get a professional website designed, always choose professionalism and quality from top website design companies like Krestel Digital, Anakle, Wild Fusion, etc., over other alternatives.
