The Advantages of Having Your Own Website

Are you a small business owner considering a shift away from third-party platforms like Etsy and Shopify? If so, you’re in the right place! In today’s digital world, owning your own website can provide you with unparalleled freedom, control, and opportunities for growth. In this article, we’ll discuss the many benefits of having your own website, including pricing flexibility, building your own email list, staying on brand, and the power of SEO optimization. So, let’s dive into the world of website ownership and discover how it can propel your small business to new heights.

What are the advantages of having your own website?

First, it’s flexible. You can update it as often as you like and add new content whenever you want to. You don’t have to worry about someone else deciding when or how often your site should be updated; this is all up to you!
Second, websites provide branding opportunities that social media doesn’t offer (for example, logos, color, font types and sizes, layout, etc.). Your brand is an important part of who you are as a business owner and what kind of image people associate with what they do with their money when they choose which products or services they want from different companies. Having control over how these things look helps ensure that each one stands out from the crowd in an appealing way without being too distracting or confusing for potential customers who visit them every day online via search engines like Google.

The Benefits of Having Your Own Email List

As a small business owner, you know that having your own email list can be one of the most valuable assets you have. It’s not just about being able to send out promotional emails and updates; it’s also about building relationships with customers who are interested in what you have to offer.
Email marketing allows for increased visibility for your products or services because it allows you to connect directly with potential clients without having to go through third-party sites like Facebook or Google Ads (although those still work well). You’ll be able to send personalized content based on what people want from you–and establish brand loyalty by creating an experience that feels personal rather than coldly transactional.
When building your business through a 3rd party site like Etsy, you have no access to your customer email outside of the platform. You cannot build an e-mail marketing campaign or even retarget previous customers, instead you are reliant on the Etsy platform. The biggest drawback to this is if Etsy decides to deactivate your account, you are done. You will lose absolutely everything, including any contact to your customers.

 The Cost of Building and Maintaining Your Own Website

• One-Time Setup Fees: There are many different options for building and hosting your website, but the most popular way is to use a web hosting service. These companies provide access to servers that store all of your content, including photos and videos. They also provide support if anything goes wrong with the site’s security or accessibility. The cost of this type of setup varies depending on how much storage space you need and how much traffic it gets (more on this later).
• Recurring Hosting Fees: Even if you build your own site using open source software like WordPress or Joomla!, there will still be some costs associated with maintaining it every month–namely hosting fees from whichever company provides server space for those sites’ content management systems (CMS). These costs can vary greatly depending on which CMS system you choose; however, we recommend going with either WordPress. Its what we use at MMD. We create a website that is easily handed over to the owners so you can continue to work with it on your own if you choose to. Think of it as a custom made website that can be easily handled by the owner.

The Benefits of Being Able to Stay On Brand

A website is a way to stay on brand, which can be important for small business owners. Your website will help you build consistency and professionalism, as well as recognition.
If you’re just starting out in your business, having a website allows people who are interested in what you have to offer to find out more about it right away. This can be especially helpful if they’re looking for something specific–like products or services–and don’t want to spend time searching through different sites trying to find them all individually.

One of the major drawbacks of third party sites like Etsy and even Shopify, is that you are limited in how much customization you can do on your own site (that’s CRAZY!). To go even further, Shopify offers some very basic templates but if you want something that’s a little more reflective of your brand, that’s going to cost you extra.

The Benefits of Having Control Over Your Pricing

The ability to control your own pricing is a huge benefit for small business owners, but it’s not the only one. Being able to adjust your prices in response to market conditions is also important–and being able to offer discounts when appropriate can help you stay competitive and attract new customers.

With sites like Etsy, many of their customers complain that they feel they are forced to offer benefits like “Free Shipping” or discount already underpriced items to remain competitive with resellers that have flooded their marketplace.

The Benefits of SEO Optimization

The benefits of SEO optimization are numerous and include:

• Increased visibility
• Increased traffic
• Higher rankings

As a new business owner, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is whether to open your own website or use a third-party platform like Etsy to sell your products. While third-party platforms may seem like a quick and easy solution, owning your own website can provide a significant advantage for your business. One of the primary benefits of having your own website is increased visibility through proper SEO.

When you have your own website, you control the content and design. This means you can optimize your website for search engines like Google and Bing, making it easier for potential customers to find you. By using keywords and phrases relevant to your products, you can increase the likelihood of appearing in search results and attracting new visitors to your website.

Increased visibility often leads to increased traffic. When more people can find your website, you’ll naturally see a boost in the number of visitors. This is important because traffic is a key metric for measuring the success of your website. The more traffic you have, the greater the potential for sales and revenue.

In addition to increased traffic, having your own website can lead to higher rankings in search engine results pages (SERPs). When your website is optimized for search engines, you’re more likely to appear at the top of search results for relevant keywords and phrases. This gives your business more credibility and exposure, making it easier to attract new customers and grow your brand.

Ultimately, owning your own website provides a level of control and flexibility that third-party platforms simply can’t match. By optimizing your website for search engines and providing a great user experience, you can increase visibility, traffic, and rankings, driving growth and success for your business. So, if you’re considering whether to open your own website or use a third-party platform, the benefits of increased visibility, traffic, and rankings are just a few reasons why owning your own website may be the right choice for your business.

Want Your Own Website but Don’t Know Where to Start?

Building your own website can seem daunting but Michelle Melo Digital is here to help. The way I work is I build your dream website and then teach YOU how to run it. This means you have full control of your site and any changes you want to make. Even if you get stuck, months down the line, you can always reach out and I’ll be here to help. I am your business’s digital BFF :). If you are curious, have questions, or want to get started, fill out the form below and I’ll be happy to help.