A website made in 2014 is not going to cut it for any business owner in Maryland. I speak to hundreds of shop owners, contractors and local businesses that think a Facebook page can take the place of a website. The truth is that people search via Google and a website is the second click and only 4 seconds in they have made up their mind. The Baltimore Market Is More Competitive Than You Think. Baltimore is no longer a small town in the internet space. That means for every business there are multiple others vying to appear in that top search spot. A baltimore web design company that can understand and leverage local SEO is actually a necessity and not a luxury. I have seen businesses with a better product completely overshadowed by another with a better designed site.
Why "Cheap and Fast" Websites Usually Backfire
Most people know what they want in a website. A baltimore web design company can meet those requirements and exceed them. I see people getting burned by these cheap and fast website options all the time. Most of those services are double dipping and charging the same client later to fix it. A web design agency in maryland charges more, but works with you to build and optimize a website that lasts rather than fails in 6 months.
Mobile Traffic Is Not Optional Anymore
Most people would say over 60% of your traffic will come from mobile devices, probably more depending on your line of business. If your site is not mobile ready you are literally turning away 2/3rds of your potential customer base. Building mobile friendly websites is not a future priority, it is a present one. It is a simple truth that will likely shape the future of your business. The statistics are hard to ignore and even harder to work with.
Local SEO Is What Lets People Find You
Having a nice looking website in Maryland is great, but people need to be able to find it and that is where local SEO comes in. This is more important than a lot of small business owners realize. This is the marketing piece that allows people to find you. It is all about your Google Business page, the city you operate in and targeted keywords. People are searching for terms like web design agencies in Maryland and need to find you when they do. That is even more true for more regional searches. That has a bigger impact than most realize with regards to finding local businesses.
Design Isn't Just About Looking Pretty
Most people probably think that design is all about colors and fonts which is maybe 20% of the job. The biggest part of website design is actually building a structure so that the end user knows what to do next. It is about guiding people through whatever process you need them to go through to become a customer. A good design will put you in front of people seeking what you offer and steer clear of those that aren't a good fit.
Your Website Should Work Like A 24/7 Salesperson
When thinking about your website it is good to remember that your website never sleeps, it never takes vacations and it never has a bad attitude. If your website is good it is going to do all of these things. It is always out there answering questions, telling people about your great services and gently reminding them to call you at 2 am when they have an emergency. Most business owners are unaware that this is a good way to think about their website. It will either be your hardest working employee or a huge waste of time and space.
Content And Storytelling Still Matter
People want to feel something, even if it's just reassured that you are the right person for the job. A solid website content will do exactly that for your visitors and customers. This is another common oversight from people that hire out their website design. Instead of writing out your words they use stock language that turns people off and doesn't make anyone want to call them. Write like a human being and people will start to respond. That is something a good maryland web design company will help with.
Maintenance Is The Part Everyone Forgets
As mentioned above your website is your employee. Just like an employee you need to keep it working and up to date or it will fail you. That means regular maintenance and updates as needed to keep everything working. This is a big issue I see as a baltimore web design company where most people launch their sites and then never look at them again. It becomes an outdated eyesore within months and maybe even gets hacked. A good agency takes care of these maintenance and update fees as part of the process.
Why Local Expertise Actually Makes A Difference
There are plenty of web design agencies all over the country that will be happy to take your business. However, a local company in baltimore is always a smarter choice. Those out of state agencies probably don't know much about the region and what makes it unique. A local maryland web design company will bring in a better understanding of the area and its needs. That small advantage builds into bigger benefits for your business.
If you made it this far you already know your website needs some work. Hopefully, it's a total overhaul but even minor tweaks and updates can make a huge difference. Whatever the case may be I encourage you to reach out to Design Strategy 360 and help us help you. It is never too late to start improving your business and fixing the things that are hurting it. You won't stay on top for long if you continue to ignore the things that are chasing you down.
FAQ
How much does a website cost from a Baltimore web design company?
That can vary greatly depending on what you need, but most anything from a few thousand to well over ten thousand will get you a nice site. There are cheaper options, but they often cost more to maintain or update.
How long does it take a web design agency in Maryland to build a site?
It really depends on complexity, but most things take between 4 and 8 weeks.
Do I really need local SEO if I already have a website?
You need local SEO for the same reason a store needs a sign. People need to be able to find you via a search.
Can an existing website be fixed instead of rebuilt completely?
Depending on a few factors we can work with your existing site to make it better. A good agency should be able to tell you whether it is possible