Why you feel you might need a website depends on the goals and objectives of your business. Although there’s pressure today for pretty much every business to have a website, you may not need one.  That said, most businesses benefit from having some sort of online presence.  The purpose of that online presence varies dramatically though and my best advice is not to be drawn into believing you need a complicated website.  Most of the clients I meet get a great result from a 1-page website that gets them started. But to get you started, check out the list below and – stick to your purpose once you’ve defined it – don’t get sold to by a developer who wants your cash.

Generally, a website serves as an online platform or presence that provides information, interaction, and engagement with its target audience. It helps when potential clients/customers do their due diligence and when existing clients/customers want reassurance they’ve made the right choice.  Here are some of the most common purposes of a website:

1. Information Sharing: Websites are often used to provide information about a company, product, service, or individual. It serves as a digital brochure or catalog where visitors can learn about your offerings, history and values.

2. Online Presence: A website establishes your online identity and serves as a virtual shopfront for your business, allowing potential customers to find and engage with you on the internet.

3. E-commerce: Many websites are designed to facilitate online transactions, enabling customers to buy products or services directly from the site.

4. Content Publishing: Websites can serve as platforms for content publishing, including blogs, articles, news, and multimedia such as videos and podcasts.

5. Communication and Interaction: Websites often include contact forms, email subscriptions, and live chat features to enable direct communication between the website owner and its visitors.

6. Lead Generation: Websites can be designed to capture leads by encouraging visitors to provide their contact information or sign up for newsletters or valuable free resources.

7. Branding and Marketing: Websites play an imporant role in brand building and marketing efforts, showcasing your unique value proposition and creating a consistent brand image.

8. Customer Support and FAQs: Websites can host frequently asked questions (FAQs) and customer support resources to assist existing customers and address common enquiries.

9. Community Building: Some websites aim to foster communities of like-minded individuals who share common interests or goals.

10. Educational Purposes: Websites can be used for educating clients/customers, to provide course materials, online classes, and resources.

11. Showcasing Portfolios: For artists, photographers, designers, and other creatives, websites serve as digital portfolios to showcase their work.

12. Data Collection and Analytics: Websites can collect data on user behaviour, interactions, and preferences, providing valuable insights for business improvements.

Overall, the purpose of a website is to serve as an accessible, informative, and interactive platform to achieve specific goals, whether it’s selling products or services, sharing knowledge, building a brand, or engaging with a community. The design and content of the website should align with its intended purpose and cater to the needs and expectations of the target audience.

How’s your website stacking up – is it fit for purpose?

Need help?

Would you like help to ‘Get comfy and confident on LinkedIn’ or to ‘Get your website looking and sounding like the real you’? Yes? Then book a chat directly in my diary. That way we can have a virtual coffee together to see if/how I might be able to help you. The call will cost you absolutely nothing, you’ll be under no obligation to do anything further AND I GUARANTEE you’ll get value from our call – otherwise I’ll pick up the tab for the virtual coffees 😂