Microbusinesses, or small businesses with a handful of employees, aren’t always online. America’s 3.7 million microbusinesses, firms with 1-9 employees, are common.

Approximately 60 percent of very small businesses (made up of one to five people) don’t have websites, according to a survey by RedShift Research. The survey “showed that the percentages were roughly the same for the U.S. and the aggregate of businesses surveyed globally, in Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Mexico, Turkey, the U.K. and the U.S.”

“While we take for granted that everyone is online, the reality is that for many small businesses it’s simply not true,” said Blake Irving, CEO of GoDaddy, Inc. said in a press release.

Endless online benefits

If
 you are a small business owner, it is pertinent that you build an online presence – starting with a company website, a proven channel that is valuable for business.

You do not have
 to run a large enterprise to realize the importance of having a website. What’s more, you no longer have to exhaust your budget to get a website up
 and running.

If you still need convincing, here’s a look at more benefits
 that are in store for you.

1. The internet is available 24/7

You may close your doors at a certain time each day, but the internet does not sleep. It is never closed for business – even on holiday’s. With an online presence you can reach your target audience on their terms, when they’re looking for your products and services. A website is actually doing business for you while you sleep.

2. Receive invaluable customer feedback

Are you listening to your customers? If you don’t have a company website, you aren’t listening as well as you could. A website allows for contact forms, product reviews, blog comments and more – all of which provide invaluable feedback. You can use this feedback to gain a better understanding of what’s working (and what doesn’t) in your business. This can save you time and money on product launches, market research, advertising and more.

3. Let potential customers find you

It’s the new normal for shoppers to use search engines like Google or Yahoo to search for what they need before making a purchase. If you own a well-designed website, you can be easily found when online shoppers are actively seeking out offerings you ma provide. If not, they’ll happily go elsewhere knocking on your competitor’s door.

4. Provide access from anywhere

Another great perk of having a company website is that your business can be reached from any device. Even if you use a drag and drop website builder to create your website, it can be accessed by any tablet, smartphone, desktop PC or laptop!
 These days, consumers are more tech-savvy and are online all of the time using more than one device. If you like to check your phone on the go, in bed, and on the
 couch; you should know that many others do too and having an online presence will increase your visibility.

5. Make a good digital impression

When a user searches for your business online, what comes up in the search results? If everything, but your website is on the first page, that’s a problem. In today’s digital age, many people won’t take a business seriously if it does not have a website.

When you have a company website it reinforces a professional image and can help you build the know, like and trust factor that keeps customers engaged.

This article has been edited and condensed.

Ellen Tindell is a Digital Marketing Manager with ucraft.me and has recently built her own personal site with a website builder. Besides web design, her other interests include reading and cooking. Connect with @ucraftme on Twitter.

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