Bangladesh has over 77 million internet users in 2024 according to a DataReportal study. As more and more people use smartphones and the internet nowadays, the digital landscape is changing fast.
People now look for everything – from the most needed essentials to luxury goods on the internet. While Facebook remains the most popular online shopping platform in Bangladesh, website shopping is also gaining traction.
There’s a boom in online-based businesses. Therefore, entrepreneurs are looking for various means to bypass the huge competition. A website is an innovative solution to cut such huge competition.
A website allows you to share more information about your products/services. It makes a positive impression and helps you appear more trusted.
This article discusses the perks of having a website and the challenges to overcome while building your website.
But before that, let’s learn more about the digital transformation in Bangladesh in recent years.
Changes In The Digital World Of Bangladesh
Data Report portal’s study reveals that about 77.36 million Bangladeshis use the internet, about 44.5% of the total population. Smartphone users are also increasing quickly.
A news report also stated that among the 97.9% of mobile phone users, about 63.3% use smartphones in Bangladesh.
Such data indicates the recent growth of internet and smartphone usage in the region. That means the country’s digital space has become a ripe opportunity for business owners to gain higher visibility.
On the other hand, our government’s initiatives to bring a digital revolution in the country, like Union Digital Centers, have also encouraged many businesses to come online. Such initiatives make internet access, skill development, and access to digital payment systems much easier for small business owners. Thus, an affluent number of entrepreneurs are willing to use digital means to establish and promote their businesses.
Below, we’ve discussed five benefits of having a website for small business owners in Bangladesh.
What Are The Benefits of a Website
1. High Visibility and Reach
With a website, businesses are no longer confined within their borders. Many businesses are now reaching a wider audience and achieving greater visibility with the help of a website.
That means businesses can go global right from the country. Because business leaders can target a cross-border audience through search engine optimization and pay-per-click marketing.
Currently, online shoppers are less active in Bangladesh than in the Western world. However, the number has grown rapidly since Covid. The researchers expect e-commerce sales to increase in double by 2026.
2. Continuous Availability
When you operate without a website, it’s almost impossible or too costly to stay available for your customers 24/7. On the other hand, a website stays active (unless it’s down) all the time.
Customers can shop from an online store anytime, even in the middle of the night. Owners can also use chatbots or human representatives to give customers 24/7 support.
In short, your continuous support through a website helps you engage your customers more and increase your sales even when the rest of the world sleeps.
3. Enhanced Trustworthiness
A good-looking website always makes a positive impression. When your business has a website, it creates a professional image in your customers’ minds. A well-designed website lets you express your brand, engaging more of your target audience.
Conversely, a poorly designed site is not favored by most internet users.
4. Cheaper than Traditional marketing
If you’re a small business owner trying to increase your reach through marketing, traditional methods like TV and newspaper ads, billboards, and in-person events might be very expensive.
In most cases, such marketing is only suitable for larger brands in Bangladesh.
However, digital marketing methods using a website, such as SEO, pay-per-click, and social media marketing ( both organic and paid ), are excellent ways for small to medium ventures.
These tactics give you proper control over the budget while allowing you to target various audience segments.
5. Access To Customer Data
Analytics tools like Google Analytics and such can be integrated into a website to scrape valuable customer insights.
You can easily learn more about website visits, purchases, consumer feedback, and other data from a website.
Such insights let you identify your popular products, traffic details, customer demographics, interests, etc. You can also use forms on your site to collect customer feedback about your services.
These insights will give you a clear starting point on which parts of your service need improvement. Therefore we can say utilizing data from your website lets you improve your products/services.
Common Challenges of Developing a Website
If you’re not a tech geek, you might not be able to build a website on your own. Building a website for your small business might include setbacks like a lack of technical experience and budget.
However, there are many ways you can still have a website of your own without a significant dent in your pocket, such as:
- Hire local website developers
- Build your website using Free Builders like WordPress
- Seek government grants or subsidies for your new business
Hiring skilled web developers to build you a user-friendly website can always save you time and effort. The costs depend on many factors, including the size of your site and the features you wish to include.
If you wish to save money, use website builders like WordPress or Squarespace to build a nice-looking website by customizing pre-made templates. Funding from investors or the government is another great way to invest in your website.
Conclusion
Having a website for your small business in Bangladesh will have many benefits. A website lets you:
- Reach a wider audience
- Ensure 24/7 availability
- Build trust and credibility
- Access cost-effective marketing
- Use customer insights and data
Now is your time to take the first step towards creating your website. It’s a website you need to grow your small business to the next level and stand out from the strong competition.
Contact us at All Next Ver to discuss your needs. Our expert website designers and developers will create an excellent website at competitive prices without compromising your needs or quality.
