Launching a start-up without a website: Good or bad?
This has been super relevant for us, as we had to navigate this ourselves internally. Unfortunately it’s not as simple as a yes/no answer, but if we just remove all the complex variables for a second, and talk about our experience and that of some clients we might iron out some reasons why.
A start-ups ongoing battle…
We all know it’s challenging when you’re building a business from the ground up. It doesn’t matter if you offer a product, a service or anything in between. Creating something from what is often a blank slate, is no mean feat by anyones standard. Amongst a variety of big challenges you must hurdle through, there’s a constant demand for building credibility. Customers, the market, family, friends, ex-colleagues, it doesn’t really matter who is looking at your product or service, do you have credibility or a track record to showcase? Obviously if you’re building from scratch, there often isn’t any track record!
Having a website provides customers a touch point of credibility that is so essential. Having as many touch points that help to build trust and authenticity throughout a customer journey is vital. As long as they showcase a positive experience for the customer, you will lose them very quickly if their interaction with you or your website is a negative one. Click here to learn more about brand and touch points.
Besides credible touch points, something we experienced in the early stage of building our online presence was the difference in communication to new customers when you don’t have a website. We would have some great conversations, driving positive interest in our services and genuinely excited to understand more about our brand and offering, what’s the next thing they’re going to ask?
“Have you got a website I can take a look at?”
It’s normal in this digital environment to be asking such a question. Why wouldn’t they? They’re effectively looking for your business CV. From this point, without the digital footprint, the conversation becomes very one-way…
“We haven’t got a Website yet red (🚩) but our services are this, and that, and have worked with these people and that business.. yada yada”
And you end up projecting all this one-way information which said client would normally be able to digest at their own pace on your site. It’s just not a healthy move when a good conversation turns dry and info based due to a missing digital component which would certainly spice it up a little.
Having said all of this, it is possible. We did it for a short while, when our site was being developed and we gathered a handful of lovely clients, but it’s just so much harder to convey who you are. The above conversations became a little too frequent. Why make it harder than it needs to be? We’re in a digital world, and right now, digital is pretty much a way of life.
Click here to avoid some more mistakes that we might have already navigated!
How can we help?
We offer a web development service for customers who are looking to create their digital platform.
✅ Various levels of complexity
✅ Wordpress platform and SEO optimised
✅ A variety of plugins to support your business