Why Every Small Business and Entrepreneur Needs a Great Website
Having a strong online presence isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity. Whether you’re a small business owner, entrepreneur, podcaster, or independent author, a good website is your virtual presence, a key to reaching potential customers, clients or audience. These days, if you’re not online, you might as well be invisible. Here's why having a great website is essential for your business’s success:
1. Your Website Is Your Digital Presence
Think of your website as your first handshake with a potential customer, and a comfortable online home for current audiences. Just like you’d want a storefront to be welcoming, clean, and professional, your website needs to reflect the quality of your brand. A well-designed website shows that you give a shit about your business, pay attention to details, and are serious about offering value.
In contrast, a poorly designed or outdated site can instantly turn people away. Studies show that users form an opinion about a website within 50 milliseconds—that's less than the blink of an eye! Your website is your opportunity to capture their attention and keep them interested in what you have to offer.
One example is our friends at Markiel’s Hair Company. Markiel didn’t have his own web presence so companies like Yelp and social media gaints were his only impression online. Imagine having someone you don’t even know represent your business in full? Not cool, right? Moreover, Markiel’s Google Business Profile had a technical glitch, sending his current and potential clients to a competetor’s booking page! Having a website tells Google and other big tech companies that you’re in charge of your own online presence.
Check out Markiel’s story here.
2. It Builds Credibility and Trust
In the modern marketplace, people often look up businesses online before they even consider buying or patronizing. If you don’t have a website or if your website looks unprofessional, potential customers might assume you’re not credible. This is especially true for smaller companies and entrepreneurs who don’t have the brand recognition of large corporations.
A good website lends legitimacy to your business and gives you a platform to tell your story. It’s where you showcase your products, services, testimonials, and expertise. Whether you’re a local hair salon, a start-up, or an independent author, your website provides a hub for everything people need to know about you.
When we engaged our friend and oldest client Claude at Vino Bella, we were proud to represent one of the most beautiful and classy venues in Issaquah. Not to put a fine point on it, but his website was ass. It looked shady and was not device responsive. It was full of spammers using the outdated login system to post nafarious links. Vino Bella’s clientel were affraid to even go to the site, let alone interact with it. Now, Vino Bella’s site is as visually appealing as the venue and patrons enjoy visiting for the latest event updates, featured artist and new fine wine offerings on the frequently updated menu.
Check out Claude’s story here.
3. It’s Open 24/7—Even When You’re Not
One of the biggest advantages of having a website is that it never sleeps, even when you do. Your physical doors or working hours might be closed, but your website is always open, allowing potential customers to browse content, learn about your services, and even make purchases.
In an era where convenience is king, people love being able to consume media, research, and shop at their own pace. A well-structured website can act as your 24/7 sales team or digital media provider, generating views, downloads, leads and sales while you focus on other areas of your business… or take naps.
Our flagship media from The 80s and 90s brand is a great example. Our website, articles, videos, and popular podcast are always online even if we aren’t. Our media entertains and informs worldwide, generating passive income with engagement such as page views, video views, and podcast downloads.
Check out The 80s and 90s media here.
4. A Great Website Is Your Best Marketing Tool
Your website is your Rome. A website is at the heart of all your marketing efforts. Whether you’re running social media campaigns, email newsletters, or paid advertisements, all roads lead back to your website. It’s the destination where people can learn more about your business or endeavor and make a decision.
A good website gives you the power to showcase your brand’s story, highlight your unique selling points, and engage with your audience. By implementing SEO (Search Engine Optimization) best practices, your website can also help you rank higher on search engines like Google, driving more organic traffic to your business.
Blog posts, like the one you are reading right now, can drive traffic to your website by improving SEO, allowing you to rank higher in search engine results and attract more organic visitors. They provide valuable content that engages your audience, encourages social media sharing, and establishes your business as an authority in your industry. Regularly updated blogs keep your website fresh, increasing visibility and encouraging repeat visits, ultimately leading to more leads and conversions.
Fervorfish can help you create engaging blog content that drives traffic and positions your business for success online with our research and Writing packages.
5. It Helps You Compete with the Big Players
The digital space has opened up opportunities for us little guys! Small businesses and entrepreneurs can compete more effectively with larger companies. With the right website, you can create an online presence that rivals bigger brands without the need for a massive marketing budget. In fact, being small makes you agile and able to create and adjust without the layers of red tape and approvals big companies have.
Your website can level the playing field by highlighting what makes you unique. Whether it’s personalized service, niche expertise, or local knowledge, your website can communicate these strengths and attract customers who prefer to work with smaller, more nimble businesses.
Take the website you are on right now as an example! We’re a small company but were able to design and launch this whole web portal in a matter of weeks. That’s because we are small. We can make quick decisions, adjust fast and experiment. So can you! Working with us gives you the flexibility of a partner who can change and adjust as fast as you require.
Have more fun browsing the Fervorfish website and check out our other proprietary sites: the80sand90s.com, Pod Chums, and Forty Frames.
6. It Simplifies Customer Interaction and Communication
A website isn’t just about selling—it’s also about connecting with your audience. It’s a platform where customers can reach out to you for inquiries, book appointments, or leave feedback. With the integration of contact forms, live chats, and social media links, you make it easier for customers to engage with your business.
For service-based businesses, having an easy-to-navigate website with clear calls to action can turn browsers into clients by simplifying the process of getting in touch with you.
Our friend Kimberly needed a website fast, especially for an upcoming conference where her URL was on her business card. We worked to get Avalon Privacy up and running quickly and included multiple contact form types so that potential clients could reach Kimberly easily from the site.
Check out Kimberly’s story here.
7. It’s Cost-Effective and Provides Measurable Results
While traditional advertising methods like print, TV, or radio ads can be expensive and hard to measure, a website provides an affordable way to promote your business with clear metrics. Tools like Google Analytics and Search Console allow you to track visitors, see what pages they’re engaging with, and understand how they found you.
This data helps you make informed decisions about how to improve your website and refine your marketing efforts, giving you a powerful way to continually optimize and grow your business.
In addition to Squarespace’s built-in analytics, we get all of our clients set up with Google Analytics and Search Console.
See our Squarespace web design packages and see if one is right for you.
Final Thoughts: Your Website Is an Investment, Not an Expense
At Fervorfish Digital Media, we believe that a good website is one of the most important investments you can make in your business or brand. It’s not just a static page—it’s a dynamic tool that helps you build trust, attract customers, and grow. For small businesses and entrepreneurs, your website isn’t just a “nice-to-have”; it’s your most valuable marketing asset in today’s digital world.
Whether you’re looking to redesign your current site or build a new one from scratch, we can help you create a website that reflects the heart of your business and helps you stand out from the competition. Let’s work together to ensure your online presence is as powerful as your business itself.
