99% of the population in the UAE uses the internet. That’s a massive user base of 10.07 million people. Add to that 9.69 million people use smartphones, and 9.20 million people use mobile internet.
All these numbers show us one thing – your business needs to be online.
No, we’re not talking about selling your products online; what we mean is something more foundational – a website.
This blog discusses the reasons why your business in Dubai needs a website and how that website can directly boost your revenue.
Table of Contents
Does My Dubai Business Need a Website?
Does My Business Need A Website if it Already has an Instagram Page?
Reasons Why Your Dubai Business Needs a Website
What Happens If My Business Doesn’t Have a Website?
SUMMARY – How Does a Website Help in Achieving My Business Goals?
Does My Dubai Business Need a Website?
People are more likely to visit a shop’s website before actually visiting the shop.
But many business owners still ask, “Why do I need to spend extra money for a website when my business is small with an even smaller workforce and I don’t sell anything online?”
Well, for starters, Dubai is a highly competitive market and chances are that your competitors may already have an active website. If you don’t intend to lose customers, you should definitely have a website.
Also, if your product or service is something that can be sold online, why not do it with your own website? You can reach new customers, and new regions, get more revenue, and grow your business multifold.
But, there is another plausible reason why you may not need a website for your small business. And that is social media.
With the easiness of creating a social media page for businesses, owners are tempted to think, “I already have an active Instagram Page, why do I need a website too?”.
Does My Business Need A Website if it Already has an Instagram Page?
There is no doubt that Facebook and Instagram have made it a walk in the park for anyone with a smartphone and internet access to create social media pages on their platforms for free.
It is also not a secret that many businesses have made success stories with just an Instagram page that showcases their products with links to buy them from Instagram itself.
Having said that, with a multitude of influencers, entertainment pages, and business pages, it has become increasingly difficult to get your products to reach your Instagram target audience.
Here are some reasons why your Dubai business needs a website even when you have an Instagram or Facebook page:
- Instagram limits your control over your brand image and identity
You can customize the design, layout, content, and functionality of your website to suit your business goals and vision. You can also use your own domain name and email address, which can boost your credibility and professionalism.
On Instagram and Facebook, you have to follow their rules and guidelines, and you may not be able to showcase your brand the way you want to.
- Instagram pages have a lower rank than websites on Google and Bing
People use Google search to find information, products, or services. If you have a well-optimized website with relevant keywords, content, and links, you can increase your chances of appearing on the first page of search results. This can drive more organic traffic to your website and generate more leads and conversions.
On social media platforms, you have to compete with millions of other pages and posts, and you may not be able to reach your target audience effectively.
- Instagram limits the data you can collect about your visitors and customers
You can use tools like Google Analytics to track the behavior, preferences, and feedback of your website visitors. You can also use forms, surveys, quizzes, or newsletters to capture their contact information and build your email list. This can help you get to know your customers better so you can target your marketing more effectively.
On social media platforms, you have limited access to data and analytics, and you may not be able to communicate with your followers directly or personally.
- A website is better than Instagram to showcase your portfolio or testimonials
If you are a service-based business, such as a web design agency or a consultant, you can use your website to display your previous work or projects, as well as the reviews and feedback from your satisfied clients. This can help you become a well-known and respected brand in your field, and bring in more customers.
On Instagram and Facebook, you can post photos and videos of your work, but it lacks the customizability of a website. Besides, you cannot easily sort your work samples, especially when you offer many types of services.
- A website can help you diversify your income streams
If you have a product-based business, such as an online store, a restaurant, or a salon, you can use your website to sell your products or services online. You can also use your website to generate passive income through advertising or sponsored posts. This can help you boost your earnings and expand your brand faster.
On Instagram and Facebook, affiliate marketing is on the rise, but it is fit mostly for individual creators or influencers. It is not effective for businesses. You may also have to pay fees or commissions to sell your products or services, and you may have less control over the pricing, delivery, or quality of your offerings.
All this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have a Facebook page or Instagram page for your business in Dubai. Your social media pages should support your website instead of replacing it.
Reasons Why Your Dubai Business Needs a Website
Having a website is not just a nice-to-have feature for your business; it’s a necessity. A website can help you achieve many goals, such as:
- A website increases your brand awareness and credibility
A website is a digital version of your store that showcases your products, services, values, and mission. It helps you create a positive impression on potential customers and establish trust and loyalty.
According to a survey by BrightLocal, 87% of consumers read online reviews for local businesses in 2020, and 48% of people cited a website’s design as the number one factor in deciding the credibility of a business.
Having a well-designed and user-friendly website can help you stand out from the crowd and attract more customers.
- It expands your market reach and customer base
A website can help you reach new customers beyond your physical location. You can target different segments of the market based on their demographics, preferences, and behaviors.
You can also leverage online marketing tools such as SEO, PPC, social media, email marketing, and content marketing to drive more traffic to your website and generate more leads and conversions. Google says that 46% of all searches have a local intent and 88% of consumers who do a local search on their smartphone visit or call a store within a day.
Having a website can help you rank higher on search engines and get more visibility and exposure for your business.
- It improves your customer service and satisfaction
A website can help you provide better customer service and satisfaction by offering various features such as online chat, FAQs, testimonials, feedback forms, blogs, newsletters, etc.
You can also use your website to showcase your portfolio, case studies, awards, certifications, etc. to demonstrate your expertise and quality.
A website can also help you collect valuable data and insights about your customers’ needs, preferences, behaviors, and feedback. You can use this data to improve your products, services, offers, and strategies to meet and exceed your customers’ expectations.
- A website increases your sales and revenue
A website can help you increase your sales and revenue by offering various benefits such as:
- Lower operational costs: You can save money on rent, utilities, staff, inventory, etc. by running your business online.
- Higher profit margins: You can charge higher prices for your products or services by adding value and differentiation to them.
- More opportunities for upselling and cross-selling: You can offer complementary products or services to your customers or suggest them to buy more or upgrade their purchases.
- Longer business hours: You can sell your products or services 24/7 without any limitations or restrictions.
- Wider payment options: You can accept different payment methods such as credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, etc. to make it simpler and more suitable for your customers to pay.
What Happens If My Business Doesn’t Have a Website?
2023 is the year of AI and if your business doesn’t even have a website. You’re basically invisible to most people.
- You will lose your online presence
You will miss out on potential customers who are looking for what you offer online. You will also miss out on the benefits of search engine optimization (SEO), which can help you rank higher on search engines and attract more organic traffic.
- You will miss customer relationships
You will not be able to provide them with information, answer their questions, collect their feedback, or offer them support. You will also not be able to showcase your customer testimonials, reviews, or portfolio, which can enhance your credibility and trustworthiness.
- You will lose your competitive edge
Your competitors will be able to reach a wider audience, use effective online marketing strategies, and leverage the latest digital trends. They will also have more credibility and authority in your industry.
- You will have less authority over marketing campaigns
You will not be able to use online marketing channels such as content marketing, email marketing, social media marketing, or online advertising to reach your target audience and generate leads and sales.
- You will have fewer customer insights
You will not be able to use tools such as Google Analytics to track and measure your website performance, visitor behavior, conversion rates, and more. This can help you optimize your website and improve your business strategies.
- You will not be available 24/7
You will not be able to cater to your customers’ needs outside of regular business hours. You will also not be able to reach customers from different time zones and regions.
- Your sales possibilities will be restricted
You will not be able to use e-commerce platforms or payment gateways to facilitate online transactions. You will also not be able to upsell or cross-sell your products or services, increasing your revenue streams and profitability.
- You will have a confined geographic reach
Websites help expand businesses beyond their local area. Without a website, you cannot reach customers from different countries and markets. Also, you will restrict your business potential and growth opportunities.
- You will have less credibility
People often judge a business’s credibility by its online presence. Not having your own website with your own domain name may lead potential customers to doubt your legitimacy.
SUMMARY – How Does a Website Help in Achieving My Business Goals?
- Increasing your brand awareness and reach among potential customers who are searching for your products or services online
- Improving your customer engagement and conversion by providing them with an opportunity to interact with your business. Learn more about your value proposition, and take action
- Boosting your local SEO and increasing your targeted traffic by ranking higher on search engines for keywords related to your products or services and location
- Building trust and credibility by demonstrating your expertise, professionalism, quality, and reputation in your industry or niche
- Staying ahead of the competition and future trends by adopting the latest technologies, designs, marketing strategies, and customer behaviors
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to create a website for your business is up to you. However, if going up the sales funnel, improving visibility, social proof, and dominance in your industry are among your business goals, then creating a website is the place to start.
And if you need help with creating and maintaining a website, Wudinfyre offers that and more. We are a digital marketing, Web design and development agency in Dubai with local knowledge of the market and experience selling products and services internationally for our clients.
If you’re confused about anything related to websites, call us today, and let’s start your business growth.
