You’ve developed a business plan, got the right angel investors on board, and tinkered with your minimum viable product until it’s perfect.

However, what else can you do to improve the chances of startup success?

A high-quality website with user-friendly navigation should be integral to your startup growth strategy. The bad news? 36% of startups and small businesses don’t have a website at all.

So, how can a good website help a startup succeed? Let’s take a look at five reasons why it pays to invest in your website.

1. It offers a solid first impression

No matter what industry you’re in, it’s critical to build credibility and confidence in your brand. While 87% of businesses believe customers trust them, only 30% of customers actually do.

One of the benefits of web development for startups is that it creates a positive first impression and shows that you know what you’re doing. This doesn’t just put your customers at ease, but investors, partners, and stakeholders too.

2. It helps you rank in the search engines

With over five and a half million businesses active in the UK[KI1] , it’s vital that you do all you can to stand out, especially if you sell similar products and services to your competitors. A well-designed website can give you the edge in search engines like Google and Bing.

Search engines prioritise websites that load quickly, look great on mobile, and are easy to navigate, meaning effective web development can lead to more organic traffic.

3. It establishes your brand

Developing a thorough digital marketing strategy is one of the most important things you can do to establish your startup.

A well-developed and effectively branded website can significantly help your marketing efforts. As well as showing up in the search engines, you can communicate your values, showcase your products and services, and show people why they should buy from your startup.

4. It encourages customers to return

Repeat business and customer advocacy are essential to all companies, but even more so to fledgling startups. Your first few customers will help fund your business, provide positive reviews online, and promote your products and services to family and friends.

An exceptional user experience means your website has intuitive navigation, has been thoroughly tested, and, most importantly, gives your customers exactly what they want. And that can make the difference between a customer buying from you once, and buying from you fifty times.

5. It allows you to scale

Where do you see your startup in the next five years? The most successful startups plan for future growth and expansion as soon as possible.

A responsive and flexible site makes it easy to keep up with new devices and implement new features. This means you can spend more time growing your business and less time worrying about rebuilding or replatforming your current website.

Taking Your Startup to the Next Level

We hope this article has explained the importance of good website development for startups. If you have any questions about business website development, we’d be happy to help.