Running a business without a website, in our digitally-fueled age, is akin to running a marathon without any shoes. It supposedly could be done, but progression would be slow and somewhat painful.

On the surface, most people understand the power of the internet, how it’s changed the world and how we find goods and services within our world. But there seems to be somewhat of a digital disconnect, if you will, when the average person becomes the average business owner.

In one survey conducted by the US Census Bureau, more than 75% of the businesses surveyed in January of 2015 reported not having a website. Considering the amount of  Google searches conducted by internet users per day now exceeds 3.5 billion, it should go without saying that the danger of not having a digital presence is quite real. A business should consider their url address to be just as important as their physical address; those potential customers who cannot easily find you will quickly stop looking for you. Instead, they will find your competitor.

So you’ve strapped on those running shoes and built yourself a pretty little website? Great first step. Now, you’ve got to understand what your site users are looking for. You’ll find it actually more convenient to have a website than you previously thought – as a well-built website provides customers with information about you and your business quickly and easily, freeing up your precious time but the time has come where even the best designed site is quickly becoming “old-school”. The average user is increasingly mobile and expects on-the-spot interaction and uniquely personal experiences. The next mile in your digital marathon, and in the long-term success of your business, depends on your readiness to embrace what your website customer expects.

Read the latest whitepaper from the ‘Marketing 360 Reviews‘ team, as they discuss 20 symptoms of an unprepared website and marketing campaign: “Is Your Small Business Ready For Web 3.0?” #marketing360reviews