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If you owner a small business or you are just starting one even if you are planning to have one. Your starting point should be a plan on how to get your business to the right customer. And this begins with your presence online. Online presence begins with a business website.

Having your business on google will give your business a good success. And a boost for business breakthrough with no time. This online presence have its root in a responsive and optimized website. You may think there’s no benefit in having a website when you can do everything on social media.

Or maybe you think you can’t afford a professional website. So you get a freebie and do it yourself instead of allowing a professional to handle it for you. I can assure you that you have just signed in for a low level of success in your business if you think or act in this manner.

The reason for this article is to enlighten you so that you can give your business a lift that will make you laugh financially. I know that is your dream.

I am Not Tech Savvy!

Perhaps you are in the generation that didn’t grow up with computers. You don’t use a computer so you think your customers don’t use computers. You think if you are not tech savvy why bother with a website. No! That is not true. Everything today is coming online. If you are not there you will lose out on the daily catch of your potential customers.

Even if you have an established business that has relied on word of mouth. Thinking you are doing quite well, that is great. But if you try to own a responsive and search engine optimized website you will witness a multiple effect of increase in your reach to your potential customers. Let me show you how in the following reasons for you to have a professional website.

Here are Eight (8) compelling reasons for your business to have a professional website.

1. It Gives Credibility to Your Business

On daily basis I can assure you that more than half of the world population today, especially from your country are now online friendly. They search for what they want online daily.  People are searching online for things they want. For solutions to their problems, to compare prices, or just to get some information about a store or best store in town, restaurant and different businesses before they purchase from them. If you don’t have a website, potential customers will go to your competitors who have. Especially if you are a home based business without a bricks and mortar address for customer to quickly find you.

Having a website will not only provide the information they are looking for, but it will give your business credibility. It simply says, “I am here”, “I mean business” and “I am in it for the long haul”.

2. Get Potential Customers Informed Easily

Think of a website as being an online brochure or catalogue that can be updated at any time in its most basic form. It is much easier and quicker to update information about your products and services on your website than it is in a printed brochure or catalogue.

Website is an effective way to introduce your customers to new your services, letting them know about new products, announcing upcoming events and special promotions. You can provide added value simply by running an information blog on your website by posting tips, resources and other information. Compared to print ads, newspaper articles and flyers which become outdated quickly.

Your website can provide current information and news. It directs people to your location through google map and allow people to follow you and get updates from you through mail subscribers etc. And if you discover a mistake after you publish a page or post, it is a quick fix.

More Than Just A Catalogue or Brochure

A website is more than just an online brochure or catalogue. It can house all your social media platforms like YouTube videos, Podcasts, Webinars, eBooks and other online media to showcase our skills, expertise and products, provide online classes, courses and workshops. It is actually a house for all of the listed platforms above.

Not to mention social media integration which enables you to share information on your website across numerous other channels and reach an even wider audience.

3. Better Accessibility to Customers

Unlike you bricks and mortar location which you only open a few hours a day, a website opens 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can provide both regular and prospective customers the convenience of reviewing your products and services, when your store or office is closed.

Not only that, visitors to your website can contact you, sign up for your courses, schedule appointments and even purchase directly through your website even when you are away from your desk or after closing with so many interactive features and add-ons that are available on the website.

You can have customers paid and get the product even online this is called ecommerce site. With today’s busy lifestyles, this is a great selling point when making a purchase decision. Imagine if you don’t have a website what your business suffers?

4. Access Wider Audience for Your Business

Websites is international. It is available to people all over the world. Accessible from anywhere in the world provided there is an internet connection. Today a lot of people are connected to internet all over the world and that large community has become reachable to your business. This is how to make your business international right from the corner of your office or home. Since more and more people have access to the internet, even in remote locations, you can target a much wider audience if your business has a website.

Whether you offer products or services, or if you are business or consumer based, your website provides you with an alternative location to sell. For retailers an eCommerce website is a great place to sell your products to a wider market. Think of all the people who can’t get to your bricks and mortar store that you could sell your products to. Only with online selling page is how you can get them. This is one of the opportunity you are presented with on the website.

Service-based businesses also can offer their services globally through a website. Now that we have so many affordable ways to communicate with people, we can do business with anyone, anywhere and at any time. A website makes it so much easier to attract clients from a global market.

5. A Better Medium to Showcase Your Work

No matter what type of business you are into, a website is a great place to showcase your work or to demonstrate your skills. You can easily build a portfolio page on your website that will show to people all you have dine or can do. Image gallery or videos, as well as testimonials about your work can be added and you will be able to demonstrate what makes your company or you unique.

If you have a website, your portfolio can be viewed by everyone all over the world. You can also control what people see and how they interact on your website. Unlike the social media platforms, once you post your work on these channels you no longer own the rights to those photos and they could be sold to use in those sponsored ads you see on your timeline?

6. A Website Saves You Time and Energy

Time is money, so they are often linked together. Saving time and energy is another great reason why your business needs a professional website. Time is an important commodity in our ever increasing fast paced world even if you don’t attach a monetary value to it I hope you know that. Most people today don’t have enough time for leisure, pleasure, family or healthy activities. Having a professionally designed website saves you time both in the short and long term.

Simply providing information to your customers online can save you a vast amount of valuable time and energy that you would otherwise spend communicating to your prospects, traveling to reach them or otherwise through talking to customers on the phone, messenger or emails, face-to-face at meetings, networking events or trade shows all take time and energy.

Creating flyers, brochures and other promotional material also take time, money and sap energy from you. What of time to plan, research, communicate to your designer, printer and so on? Not to mention the time needed to distribute your marketing material etc.

With a website, you can save yourself a whole lot of time and energy and even money by providing information about your products and services in various online formats such as graphics, video, eBooks, or as articles like this one you are reading now on the website page. Remember no distribution required. Once your website is up and running, it is available to your customers indefinitely, saving you time having to communicate the same message over and over again to different people.

7. It Improve Customer Service Experience

A professional website is a great way to provide value added service to your customers and clients. It is a great way to keep them coming back to your when they need your products or services.

Whatever product or service you offer in your business. You can share tips to your customers on how to use or care for the products they’ve purchased from you.

By including a FAQ page or a resources section. You can regularly add articles or upload newsletters to answer all your customers’ questions. You can keep them better informed and up to date.

8. You Own Your Website

Another reason why your business needs a professional website, is that you actually own your website. Information you have on the other social media can be out of your reach in one day. All in the name of violating a rule or what on that platform and you are locked out. All your efforts of years will be lost in just a day. Not like your own website. That is why I advised that all information you are sharing should be a feed from your website.

If you are a ministry owner or you are just starting one like many. You may think there’s no benefit in having a website when you can do everything on social media. Or maybe you think you can’t afford a professional website. So you get a freebie and do it yourself instead. I can assure you are missing out a lot when to come to maximizing your potential reach for your ministry. In this article i will show you eleven benefits of website to your ministry.

Perhaps you are in the generation that didn’t grow up with computers or internet. You don’t use a computer and you think your members and the potential ministry members, supporters and partners also don’t use computers or internet No! That is a very wrong assumption. This is a computer and internet generation. And it will amaze you to know that a lot of people around you are connected one way or the other.

Why bother with a Website?

You think if you are not tech savvy why bother with a website? That is why this article has been written just to let you know that you do not need to be a tech savvy to use or own a website. All you need to do is to engage a professional that can assist you. And as you are given this help you will also be able to use the platform like a pro. It will shock you to discover how cheap it cost to own a website.  

Let us agree that you are an established ministry that has relied on the word of mouth. And you think you are doing quite very fine and well more grace to you. I give you a thumbs up but there are several reasons why your ministry needs a professional website too. It will amaze you that you have lost a good number of potential followers or listeners despite your great success so far without your presence online as a ministry.

I believe, even with all that you can do on social media. And even if you have been in ministry for several decades. Unless you do not want to grow your ministry, your ministry needs a website and preferably one that is professionally designed and developed.

Here are 11 (Eleven) compelling reasons why your ministry NEEDS a professional website

1. Increase Credibility

Everyday people all over the world are searching online for things they want. Searching for solutions to their problems. Some want to get information about churches program, service or some ministry value. And most especially the unreached are online searching for the right place to worship and word or teaching.  

Potential members are searching daily on ministry, ministers and what they offer that they can benefit from. Or why they should join their ministry. If you don’t have a website. Potential members or sponsors will go to your competitors who they can find in the search from their home.

Having a website will not only provide the information they are looking for. But it will give your ministry a worthy credibility. It says, I am here, I mean business, and here is what we or I can offer.

2. Potential and Existing Members CAN BE KEPT INFORMED

In its most basic form. I want you to see a website as being an online brochure or catalogue, that can be updated at any time. It is much easier and quicker to update information about your services, and ministry detail on your website than in a print brochure or catalogue.

A website is an effective way of introducing your church or ministry members and potential members to ministry services. Let them know about new events may be book or events, announcing upcoming events and special announcements.

You can also provide added value by posting tips, resources and other information through a blog page on your website. Unlike print ads, newspaper articles and flyers, that quickly become outdated. Your website can provide current information and news with ease through editing without additional cost.

Website is more than a catalogue or brochure

Actually a website is much more than just an online brochure or catalogue. Though we have YouTube videos, Podcasts, Webinars, eBooks and other online media to showcase our services and programs, books, provide online services, and workshops. Your website is actually a house for all of the listed platforms above for effective result.

Not to mention social media integration. Which enables you to share information on your website across numerous other channels such as Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, twitter etc. And reach a wider audience.

3. 24 Hours Accessibility to People

Unlike you bricks and mortar ministry location, which is only open a few hours a day, a website is opened 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You will be able to provide both regular and prospective members and people around the world with right information, teaching, book etc. At their convenience when your service or office is closed.

Not only that, with so many interactive features and add-ons your website, visitors to your website can contact you, sign up for your courses, access your social media pages, schedule appointments and even purchase directly through your website your tapes, books, etc. Even when you are away from the church or ministry’s office or after closing of the service.

With today’s busy lifestyles, this is a great meeting point with people around the world from your own house or office. A website is a place where people make decision on what or who to support or follow.

It is a place to reach the unreached. It is a place to find out about gospel as people are tired and looking for solution to their problems but are not ready to come to a church may be because they have been biased about pastor or church. Own a website today and be accessible to people all over the world. This is how to easily take the gospel to the whole world.

4. Website Enables You to Reach a Wider Audience

The best way to be available to people all around the world from your own office or house is to be present online. And this begins with a website. A website contains all information about your ministry, your services, and your contact and so on.

Websites are accessible from anywhere in the world provided there is an internet connection there. Since a larger number of people have access to the internet. Even in remote locations, you can target a much wider audience if your ministry has a website.

Whether you offer products or services. Or you are business or consumer based, your website provides you with an alternative location to sell and reach out to people bigger than your local reach.

Now that we have so many affordable ways to communicate with people. We can do ministry that reaches many people anywhere and at any time. A website makes it so much easier to attract people or audience easily from a global world.

5. Best Medium to Showcase Your Ministry and What the Lord Is Doing

No matter what type of ministry you have or run, a website is a great place to showcase your work or demonstrate your grace and ability or gifts that the lord has given you as a minister and also to showcase all the great things God is doing through your ministry.

It is a better place to display the project you have that can attract sponsors or supporters etc. It is a place top display your upcoming events so that all your site visitors can be invited. All you need to do is to just add a portfolio page, image gallery or videos, as well as testimonials about your ministry, you can demonstrate what makes your ministry or you unique.

If you have a website, your portfolio or testimonial can be viewed by everyone anywhere and you are in control of what people see. The quality and size of your photos, and how people interact with those photos or video and posts. Not only that, but did you know that in most cases, once you post on these social media channels you no longer own the rights to those photos and they could be sold to use in those sponsored ads you see on your timeline?

6. A Website Saves You Time and Energy

I believe that you know that time is money, so they are often linked together. Saving time and energy or effort is another great reason why your ministry needs a professional website. Time is an important commodity in our ever increasing fast paced world even if you don’t attach a monetary value to it.

Most people today don’t have enough time for rest, leisure, family or healthy activities. Having a professionally designed website saves you time both in the short and long term that allow you to rest, create time for your family and able to do much many things because you will not need to do whatever has been done on your website again over and over.

By providing information to your members and potential members or followers on your website, you can save a vast amount of valuable time that you would otherwise spend communicating to them one on one as they call to make inquiry. Or even counselling. You can easily refer them to your articles or materials on the website.

Save Time and Energy

Talking to them on the phone, in messenger or emails and face-to-face at meetings all takes time and sap energy. Creating flyers, brochures and other promotional material as well do take time. I mean time to plan, research, and communicate to your designer, printer and so on. Not to mention the time you need to distribute your printed materials.

You can save a whole lot of time and energy by providing information about your ministry and services in various online formats such as graphics, video, eBooks, and flip books or as article like this one you are reading now on the blog page of your website. No distribution is required. Once your website is up and running, it is available to people all over the world indefinitely, saving you time having to communicate the same message over and over again to different people.

7. A Website Can Improve Trust And Also Attract New People To You

A website is a great way to provide value added service to your members and members to be or followers globally. Life is able providing solution or meeting peoples’ need. Website is a great way to keep people coming back to your website when they need your services or what you offer.

You can share articles or tips on your websites on so many subjects that boarders them, Your preaching, newsletter, prophecies, prayer guides and all sort can be posted and it will be a way to bless someone searching for such help all over the world, who will in turn develop a trust in your ministry and add up to your followers or even a church member.

Think of reaching new contacts or people when a visitor to your website after being blessed with your posts or video or articles shares it with her or his social media handles or friends on platforms like Facebook, Instagram twitter etc. This can enlarge your worth, the ministry and also gets you sponsors or partners in your ministry including having new followers or church member.

8. YOU OWN AND CONTROL YOUR WEBSITE

Even if you have a big social media presence, another reason, and probably the most important reason why your ministry needs a professional website is that you actually own your online space on your website unlike twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, etc.

The information you have on the social media can be out of your reach in a day, in the name of violating a rule, or whatever reason on the platforms. And before you know it, you are locked out. All your efforts of years will be lost in just a day, because you cannot access all the information you have.

Unlike your own website where you have protection to all your information, images, data and videos etc. That is why I advised that, all information you are sharing should be a feed from your website to the social media platforms.

9. Access to Your Information in an Organized Format.

This is very direct. Take for example, if you are looking for a post you made on Facebook last few months, it may be difficult to find. Because of the Facebook data access system. Unlike your website that have a search button that can make someone search for topics or a word from the subject of the article or post. The search will help you find it within few seconds. That makes your ministry accessible to more people searching online.

Your website is your data and information storage. Where a particular post can be called for at any time with ease. Website is a place where your work of today can be accessible and reaching people. Still blessing them after many years you have published the article or book or post. Your post, video, images on social media are not searchable by people online unlike on your website.

10. Get International And Local Payment, Support And Donations Or Offering.

Yes you heard me very well. Some friends, non-local assembly members or friends and partners from other states, and countries will like to support or donate to your ministry. Or give their offering to you and your ministry online. Your website provides you the opportunity to get such money easily into your bank account. Using various add-ons that are available on the website.

11. Get Customized emails

This is the last one I want to talk about among many other reasons you should have a website. If your ministry is Light Arena Ministry, and you have a website as www.lightarena.net. That accords you several customized email with ease and without additional charge. What Gmail, yahoo etc. are is what your website also provided. You will not find a cooperate organization using Gmail or yahoo etc. for their transactions. You too can have the same. Like donations@lightarenachurch.org, info@miraclechurch.net, sponsors@lightchapel.org, pastorsam@lightchaple.org etc. This makes your more cooperate in administration and gives you better popularity and advertisement. It is a boot to your corporate branding.