A lot of small business owners come to me with the same feeling: they think they probably need a website, but they're not totally sure it's worth it. Maybe they're getting by on word of mouth. Maybe they have a Facebook page. Maybe they just haven't gotten around to it.
Here are 10 honest questions to help you figure it out.
1. Are people searching for what you do online?
Try it right now. Type your service and your town into Google. "Plumber Vernon." "Hair salon Armstrong." "Bookkeeper Salmon Arm." If results come up, people are searching. If you're not showing up, that business is going to someone else.
2. Do customers ever ask if you have a website?
If even one person has asked you this, that's worth paying attention to. People like to look someone up before they call. If there's nowhere to send them, some of them won't bother.
3. Are you relying entirely on social media?
Facebook and Instagram are useful. They're also not yours. The algorithm changes, your account could get hacked, and platforms go in and out of style. A website is the one piece of your online presence you actually own.
4. Do you answer the same questions over and over?
What are your hours? What do you charge? Do you serve my area? If you're fielding these by phone or DM every week, a website can handle them for you. At 2am, on weekends, whenever.
5. Are your competitors online?
Go look. If the businesses you compete with have websites and you don't, you're starting every comparison at a disadvantage. It's not that a website guarantees you'll win — it's that not having one can make you look like the riskier choice.
6. Do you want to show your work?
If what you've done speaks for itself — renovations, landscaping, photography, design, cooking — a website is basically a portfolio that's always open. Photos, before-and-afters, project descriptions. It does a lot of the selling before you even pick up the phone.
7. Do you want to show up on Google Maps?
Your Google Business Profile works better when it's connected to a real website. You can set one up without a site, but having a website tells Google your business is legitimate. It's one of those things that quietly helps.
8. Are you planning to grow?
If you want to hire, take on bigger clients, or expand into new areas, a website is part of what makes you look like a serious operation. Not the only thing, but it matters more than most people think.
9. Do leads ever fall through the cracks?
Someone DMs you on Instagram, someone else texts, someone emails. It's easy to lose track. A website with a contact form gives people one clear place to reach you, and gives you one place to check.
10. Are you tired of explaining yourself from scratch every time?
A good website does the groundwork before a conversation even starts. By the time someone calls, they already know what you do, roughly what it costs, and why they should trust you. That makes every conversation a lot easier.
So — do you need one?
If you said yes to most of those, a website will probably pay for itself. In time saved, leads you'd otherwise miss, and the general credibility boost of having a professional online presence.
If you said no to most of them, you might genuinely be fine for now. Some referral-only businesses don't need a website yet, and I'd rather tell you that than take your money for something that won't move the needle.
If you're not sure, get in touch. Tell me about your business and I'll give you a straight answer.