We are living in a digital age, where real-life decisions are made with the help of preliminary online research. In fact, according to a 2013 study conducted by GE Capital Retail Bank, 81% of consumers search online from their desktop or mobile device before making a purchase.
If you are neglecting your website, you are missing out on opportunities to showcase your brand to potential customers. As Tampa web design and digital marketing professionals, we’re providing three reasons why your website should be the center of your marketing universe.
1. Your Website Serves as a First Impression
You know the old saying, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” Well, the same holds true when it comes to your website. It takes no more than 50 milliseconds for a website visitor to start forming opinions about your company. If you think that the aesthetics of your website do not play a role in how your customers view your brand, consider the “halo effect.” The “halo effect” states that people start forming ideas and attributing characteristics from what they see on a physical level. If they see something pleasing, they instantaneously place positive attributes to that person, place, or thing. If they see something displeasing, then they associate it with negative attributes. When it comes to your website, the same holds true. A poorly designed website that lacks a professional appearance will cause your audience to draw negative associations with your brand, resulting in a bad first impression.
2. Your Website Impacts Brand Perception
You might have the best product or service in your industry, but if you don’t have the brand perception to match, people will bypass your company for one they perceive as more trustworthy and credible. Brand perception is a leading factor in how people view your company. In a study conducted by Stanford University, over 75% of users stated that the design of a website determined how they viewed the overall company and their credibility. The impression a prospective customer gets when they first visit your website lives far beyond the initial visit, and once negative brand perception is established in the minds of prospective customers, it’s very difficult to overcome.
3. Every Marketing Effort Leads to Your Website
The time and money spent on advertising, public relations, social media, and search marketing ultimately leads prospective customers to your website, which is why it’s essential that your brand and your capabilities are well represented. A website that fails to do this discredits your brand and undermines other marketing efforts, resulting in lots of wasted time and money.
Conclusion
As a web design company in Tampa, we cannot stress enough the importance of having a professionally designed website that serves a great first impression, creates positive brand perception, and complements your other marketing efforts.
