Are websites really the storefronts of the 21st century? Or can you get along with just your social media account?
Well, websites are essential for large companies that need to promote and sell a high volume of products online. Used alone, and despite all of the benefits, social media simply doesn’t have enough resources to keep up with the requirements of large eCommerce companies.
On the contrary, some businesses and entrepreneurs don’t need to spend their resources on building and managing a whole website, because they can achieve the same (and even better) results using social media alone.
The leading social media platforms offer all the tools necessary for creating a social media account as professional as a website is.
In this article
Why Use Social Media Over a Website?
The potential of social media is impressive. Social media users run into brands and engage with them on a daily basis. 80% of Instagram users follow at least one business, while Instagram’s potential advertising reach is over 840 million users! And that’s just Instagram alone.
When I say social media, I’m not just talking about the main platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter. There are countless social media platforms designed specifically for particular industries with the relevant target audiences.
Now, let’s take a look at some benefits of using social media platforms for your business or personal brand.
- Better communication options. Social media gives you all the tools needed for fast and easy communication with your customers. You can use direct messages, comments, and Q&A features to communicate with your audience.
- Feedback. Regardless of your industry, collecting customer feedback is key to business development. Social media provides numerous options for collecting feedback.
- Partnership opportunities. Building partnerships with influences and collaborating with other professionals is a lot easier through social media platforms.
- User-generated content. User-generated content is all content that has been published by social media users. And they regularly post to their stories tagging brand accounts. Think of it as free branding and advertising from your customers.
Social media platforms offer numerous content promotion options. It’s 2020, and you don’t necessarily have to create a traditional website, social media can be more than enough for success. Let’s take a look at the cases in which you don’t need to create a website to thrive.
Also, the quality of your work can improve the right choice of ubuntu program.
9 Situations Where You Do Not Need a Website
1. Tribute to the trends
Surprisingly, stereotypes also exist in business. One of them – the company must have a website. In fact, it is not always useful, and even more so, a necessary promotion tool. The site is a great platform that opens up many opportunities. But only if there is a plan to promote and use the resource to achieve goals.
Be sure to define a strategy. If based on it, you understand exactly how the site will help in the development of the brand, then do it. However, many goals can be achieved through the use of social networks. Therefore, it is worth weighing the pros and cons. It is important to make decisions not to promote your own ego, but to develop your business.
2. Already need customers
A site is not a magnet for people. Moreover, users tend to visit the same resources. And this despite the fact that their number is huge. According to the data, there are over 1.7 billion sites.
The site does not carry value without promotion. Even having written a site, you do not finish working with it. To attract visitors, you will need to develop a marketing promotion plan and provide a monthly resource service.
3. Your customers are not here
Each marketing event should be targeted. It is important to understand to whom and what value you carry. This strongly determines the effectiveness and relevance of marketing tools, as well as communication channels.
Before you start promoting the brand through the site, study the target audience. Who are they? How do these people spend time? How often do they access the Internet? If so, which sites do they visit? In fact, the answers to all these questions are easy to obtain by drawing a portrait of the target audience. And it is a consequence of the study of customers.
A simple example: colorful products (clothing, cosmetics) have great potential in social networks. However, Instagram or Pinterest is completely unsuitable for the sale of expensive goods. For example, a car.
4. The site has no purpose
Suppose you are already determined to create a site. What will it look like? Is it a landing page, an online store or a business card site? Why is it looking like that? Because the programmer likes it or because it is suitable for the set goals?
In order for the site to be effective and profitable, it must be a component of the company’s strategy. It is important to understand the role of filling a resource in achieving goals. Only the compliance of the website strategy will ensure the conversion of visitors to customers.
5. Sales “for people”
Above we mentioned this in passing. A business must understand who it focuses on and what needs it satisfies. This determines the value of the product for potential customers, product benefits and leverage. However, ignorance of the target audience can spoil any advertising campaign.
Be sure to research the customers. Understanding what things encourage you to buy your product, greatly simplifies the development of a promotion strategy. Determining the needs of the target audience is the foundation of any advertising campaign.
6. Limited time
Creation, filling, promotion and support of the site is a long process. It is justified if you are confident in the need for this step. If not, then spend time more efficiently. Sometimes good business process management brings more benefits.
To generate revenue through the site, you need to stimulate traffic. Its attraction is possible with regular filling. That is, you have to create materials at least once a week and post them on your blog. It takes time. You can save it by hiring an employee who will deal with the filling. However, this will increase the company’s expenses.
7. Site as a method of procrastination
One of the easiest ways to postpone opening your own business until later is to decide that the company cannot exist without a website. Sometimes the search for a specialist who can create a high-quality online store takes several weeks. It may take up to six months to resolve design issues.
Yes, sometimes it takes a lot of time. The goal of starting a business with a website is able to delay the start. Is it worth it? Or is it enough to appear on a social network to start the promotion?
8. Financial costs
At least, $ 1,000 will have to be spent on creating a beautiful site. Of course, you can find specialists who will complete the task for half the price. True, the quality of the site will remain in question.
Development, content and promotion require substantial investment. Which is especially difficult for start-ups or small businesses? If you decide to create a website, then you need to include it in the marketing plan, providing a budget for support. It is important to make sure that the company is able to allocate money.
If this is not possible, then you should abandon the idea of making a website. 1000 dollars can be spent much more efficiently. For example, investing in targeted advertising on social networks. You can also hire a consultant for this money who will develop or improve a promotion strategy. Another option is to invest in the services of a business coach.
9. The site does not fit into the marketing strategy
If a marketing tool does not help to achieve goals, then, with a high probability, it prevents this. All due to the fact that any task takes time and effort. A poor site can degrade a brand’s image. The situation is similar when the resource positions the company differently than on existing sites, or gives customers a different message.
Inefficient sites take resources. However, the latter are limited. Therefore, allocating time, effort and money to “at least some” maintaining the site, you take them away from other tasks. It is important to be sure that it is worth it. The site should be part of the marketing strategy and ensure the achievement of specific measurable goals.
You should also remember about the quality of the texts. Mistakes could negatively affect reputation. Therefore, before publishing articles, always check them using special tools like Grammarly or give them dissertation writing services for proofreading.
3 Types of Business for Which a Website is Not The Best Solution
You’re a small business owner
The major social media platforms provide enough tools for selling your products online. Instagram offers the Instagram Shopping feature for entrepreneurs who’d like to set up a store within the platform. Facebook has a similar feature for selling products called Shop. Similar to eCommerce websites, these platforms allow you to add product pictures, descriptions, and details. You can also add options like product size and color, which are crucial for retail.
It’s important to focus on just one or two platforms, though. When you try to sell products on many platforms simultaneously, it can get overwhelming and counterproductive.
Oftentimes, social media platforms allow sending direct messages to customers. Facebook Messenger is a perfect tool for product promotion and communication with your clients. Messenger allows users to send private messengers to one another and, luckily, this feature also extends to business accounts. Moreover, you can create advertising campaigns specifically for Facebook Messenger. When a user clicks on the ad, they’ll be prompted to start a chat with your business account.
Besides advertising, you can set up automated messages in Facebook Messenger. If someone sends you a message, they’ll get an automated response while they wait for a customer service representative.
You’re a graphic designer / a photographer
If you’re a graphic designer or a photographer, there is no need to build a website to promote your skills and talent. Behance is the best platform for networking and showcasing your portfolio. The platform allows you to upload your projects with backstories and add your bio. There are no limitations to your creativity as you can customize design layouts complementing your projects. That’s why creating a solid Behance profile is more effective than setting up a website.
Pinterest and Instagram are also useful for designers and photographers since most of the content is visual.
It’s helpful to use a professional grammar checker to ensure that your backstories and bios are well-written and contain no mistakes.
You’re a musician
Social media made self-promotion and networking for musicians much easier. Many modern artists have been discovered on social media. A smart social media presence can help you expand your audience and find new gigs. It’s better to use several major platforms to ensure that people who look you up can easily find you. Make fully optimized and constantly updated accounts your top priority. Additionally, your bios must link to the latest release, and your feed is all about music.
SoundCloud is the most important of all platforms for musicians. The platform offers enough tools and resources for sharing your works throughout the SoundCloud community. Use tags for making your tracks more finable when listeners search through SoundCloud. You can also add a Buy link to your track upload to redirect listeners to Apple Music or Spotify.
Final Thoughts
Some businesses and entrepreneurs don’t need to set up a website to meet their commercial goals. A smart social media presence proves to improve user engagement and enhance your personal brand. Thriving on social media is all about creating an effective strategy. At the end of the day, it’s all about what works best for your business.
