If your B2B company made it to 2022 without a website, you’re not alone. In 2021, Trademodo surveyed 130,000 businesses throughout the seafood supply chain and concluded that over 85% of B2B companies operate without a website. When asked why, the most common responses were:
- There’s no need for a website – We’re too busy to pursue unqualified leads
- It’s expensive – It’s not worth the investment
- Lack of knowledge – Owning a website is too complicated
There’s no denying that you’ve survived and even thrived without a website, but here are 10 reasons why it’s finally time to get a website in 2022:
Reason #1: Missed opportunities
A study conducted by Google found that 89% of B2B researchers use the internet during the B2B research process. This means that every time a potential customer goes online and doesn’t find your company, that business goes to your competitors. Since 85% of B2B companies are still operating without a website as of 2021, you have the opportunity to become the leading online competitor that gets considered everytime a B2B buyer goes online.
If you benefit from word of mouth referrals, another point to consider is that a lead is much more likely to become a customer if they have also been pointed to a website. This is especially true when you consider that the typical B2B buying process can be influenced by up to six to ten decision makers. It’s also much easier for key information to be repeatedly accessed through a website than through word of mouth alone.
Reason #2: Customers expect it
Shaking hands and exchanging business cards is no longer enough to convince a customer of your professionalism. Today, seafood trade businesses go above and beyond to attend tradeshows and host events just to make an impression on customers. Your website is the digital equivalent of a business card, brochure, exhibition booth, and so much more.
Not having a website in 2022 is like having a store without any signage indicating which business occupies that space. With 4.9 billion active internet users, it’s more than likely that any potential customer of yours ends up assuming your company either doesn’t exist or that you’re not serious about earning their business if they can’t find you online.
Reason #3: Credibility and first impression
First impressions matter, and a study concluded that websites have 50 milliseconds to make a good first impression on a visitor. This is why having a professionally designed B2B website that is user friendly and mobile responsive can show customers that you’re someone they want to do business with. In fact, 56% of people won’t trust a business without a website and 84% agree that a website makes a business more credible.
When it comes to referrals, 57% of people say they won’t recommend a business with a poorly designed mobile site.
The conclusion is that people will make referrals that reflect well on them, and will be much more likely to engage with a company they can trust. If they don’t know you yet, your website is the perfect opportunity to show a customer that they can trust you.
Reason #4: Great return on investment (ROI)
The average small business spends $2,000 to $10,000 USD, plus hosting and maintenance, to build a website. At Trademodo a B2B website costs even less as we’re waiving up front development fees with a one year commitment to our premium hosting and support, if you are a seafood supply chain company. With minimal set up costs and premium hosting for less than $300 a month, having a website costs less than it does to attend a tradeshow or install a sign on your building.
So how does this make you more money? A professionally designed B2B website that has optimized keywords can gain traffic from visitors using search engines for free, just like if a customer saw your company’s sign and walked into your building. When it comes to paid advertising, there’s a reason why digital advertising now makes up more than 60% of all money spent on ads. It’s because of how measurable the results are, and the return on investments (ROI) of over 200%.
Reason #5: Level playing field against competitors
Search engines and paid online advertising gives your company an opportunity to compete on a level playing field against your competitors. Search engines, like Google, rank your websites based on factors like relevance, content quality, usability, and context. This means you compete based on the quality and relevance of your site, and not the size of your company or how much revenue you generate. When it comes to paid advertising, the same opportunities for advertising are available to all businesses. In a pay-per-click (PPC) scenario you will often find yourself bidding for inexpensive keywords that cost an average of $2.69 per click.
Reason #6: Save time and expand reachability
Websites are accessible 24/7 and can provide answers to basic and repetitive questions that your receptionist or operator might be tired of answering. You can easily provide customers with answers to general inquiries like your preferred contact information and location, answers to frequently asked questions, and access to commonly requested files and documents.
Another great way to save time is to automate certain processes. It’s easy to create a form on your website where you can direct people to fill out new customer forms or credit application forms. You can also automate parts of your sales process like scheduling appointments, providing product or service information, and getting customers to subscribe to newsletters or recurring price lists.
Reason #7: Online store and Direct to Consumer opportunities
Websites set up for billing and e-commerce plugins have made it possible for over 2 billion people to purchase goods or services online. Creating customized features is a straightforward process that can give you the opportunity to showcase your products or services alongside brochures, videos, and tutorials. From there you can create automated billing and checkout processes that allow your customers the option of having a completely contact free experience.
Reason #8: Control the narrative
Since 84% of people trust online reviews, bad reviews and rumors can have a drastic impact on a customer’s perception of your brand. Thankfully, a website can help set things straight by communicating your message vision clearly to prospective customers. You can combat all that negativity by using positive testimonials, case studies, awards, and accolades.
Reason #9: Social media is not enough
Social media can be a great tool for engaging followers and growing influence, however it’s not a replacement for a website if you are a B2B company. Social media platforms are often limited in their functionality and do a terrible job at housing information.
Having a website also allows you to direct and consolidate traffic from social media to your website. More importantly an advertisement on a single social media platform is often temporary, while that same advertisement pointing to a website gives your customer the ability to return to your website in the future.
Reason #10: The right time is now
A Trademodo study showed that there are over 40 million monthly searches directly related to specific seafood products. With 85% of your competitors still operating without a website in 2022, you have an incredible opportunity to be the leader by creating your B2B website now.
One important caveat is the role time plays in search engine ranking. It can take months for a search engine to acknowledge your website’s existence, and when ranking similar quality websites, the oldest sites are always favored.
Heard enough?
If you’re ready to talk to someone who specializes in websites for B2B seafood supply chain companies, click here.
