By Julia Heser*
If a business wishes to form a relationship with consumers, the first step is to reach out using the methods that consumers use. For 50 days, a website in Philippi was launched. PhilippiMain.com showcased Philippi Inn restaurant’s menu, contact info, and hours.
After speaking with the owner, increased traffic on Philippi Inn’s Facebook page was discovered. If a website that was only live for 50 days can increase traffic, imagine what a full time website can do.
When Facebook was created in 2004, it quickly defined a vision of how the world should be; connected. Facebook’s mission statement declares that it “is to give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected”.
Similar missions have been achieved by the likes of Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter. Consumers of all ages visit social media sites to connect with friends, family, or to look at their favorite brands.
In a 2016 study, 36% of individuals stated that they may choose against doing business with a small business without a website. Going further in depth, that same study suggests that 1 in 5 respondents will avoid businesses that do not respond actively to reviews on their social media sites. These statistics are especially relevant when looking at recent Internet trends. For instance, usages of smart phones and social media have dramatically increased. These factors make it crucial for small businesses to create and maintain a website.
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