Why don't 1/3 of Hungarian businesses have a website?

One of the keys to the success of a business in the digital world is an effective online presence. While "on average 77% of businesses in the European Union had a website in 2020 (Digitális gazdaság, 2020 (ksh.hu)Digital economy, 2020 (ksh.hu), only nearly two-thirds (63%) of Hungarian businesses used this opportunity." started a business on the path of digitization, but unfortunately this digitization lag has remained until today.

In this article, we will examine why 1/3 of businesses do not yet have a website, what disadvantages this entails, what advantages they would have if they had a website, what methods and main steps can be taken to achieve this.

Why doesn't a business have a website?

      1. Cost concerns: Many entrepreneurs believe that creating and maintaining a website is too expensive. According to a 2021 survey, 29% of small businesses do not have a website due to costs. 
      2. Lack of technological knowledge: Creating and managing a website can seem like a daunting task if you don't have the right technology background. According to a study, 23% of small businesses do not have a website because of this.
      3. Satisfaction with the existing clientele: Some businesses feel they already have a stable customer base and don't see the need to expand online. Nevertheless, according to a 2020 survey, 70% of customers collect information online before making a purchase, so some existing customers may defect to a partner with a website at any time.
      4. Online presence in a different form: Some businesses prefer social media platforms or other online marketplaces instead of developing their own website. However, it is worth knowing that, for example, a Facebook group or page cannot replace the function of the website, it only complements it.
      5. Overreliance on word of mouth or traditional marketing: Some believe that personal relationships and traditional marketing methods are sufficient. In contrast, according to statistics, an online presence increased small business revenues by 40% in 2021.
      6. Security and privacy concerns: Cybersecurity concerns are making some businesses shy away from going online. However, market trends show that digital security solutions are becoming more accessible and effective.
      7. A strategic decision: Some companies deliberately choose not to create a website because they feel it doesn't fit their brand or business model.

    It is always important to understand that every business is unique and the reasons behind such decisions may vary. However, it is worth reviewing our previous decision every 1-2 years korábbi döntésünket, because the market situation, business goals and strategy may change.

    What are the disadvantages of not having a website?

        1. Limited availability: 60% of businesses that do not have a website face significant accessibility limitations. This disadvantage will only increase as time progresses.
        2. Csökkent versenyképesség: A vállalkozások 75%-a, amelyek rendelkeznek weboldallal, jelentős növekedést tapasztaltak az ügyfélkörben.
        3. Elmaradás a digitális trendektől: A piaci elemzések szerint a digitális marketing és az e-kereskedelem 2022-re a globális kiskereskedelmi forgalom 47%-át tette ki. Tehát aki lemarad, az kimarad.
        4. Hitelesség és professzionalizmus hiánya: A felmérések szerint az ügyfelek 80%-a azt várja el, hogy egy modern vállalkozás rendelkezzen weboldallal és online csatornákkal egyaránt.

      Milyen előnyökkel jár a weboldal?

          1. Növekvő elérhetőség és piaci jelenlét: A weboldal biztosítja a vállalkozás online jelenlétét, lehetővé téve, hogy az ügyfelek könnyen megtalálják őket az interneten. Egy jól megtervezett weboldallal akár 60%-os piaci növekedést is elérhetsz.
          2. Authenticity and professionalism: A professional website contributes to increasing the credibility of your business. A well-maintained website suggests that the business takes its activities seriously.
          3. Marketing and branding: A website is a powerful marketing tool that allows businesses to reach their target audience, provide promotional materials, news and information. With the help of the website, businesses reach 50% more customers than with traditional marketing methods.
          4. Sales channel: The website provides an opportunity to sell products and services online, which is particularly important in the world of e-commerce.
          5. Increase customer satisfaction: A website provides direct contact with customers, which improves customer satisfaction by 30%.
          6. Customer service: The website can help improve the efficiency of customer service, for example with a FAQ (frequently asked questions) section, contact forms, and online support options.
          7. Information and communication: The website provides a central place for businesses to inform customers about the latest products, services, news and updates.
          8. Competitive advantage: A well-designed website can be a competitive advantage, especially in industries where an online presence is not yet widespread.

        Overall a website is a key tool for businesses in the modern digital age, helping them to increase their presence, reach their target audience and improve their business results.

        What website creation options are there?

            1. Website development on your own: If there is an IT specialist at the company or a colleague blessed with an IT vein, then the company can start making its website itself.
              The advantage isthat the company will be able to manage the website itself and a colleague will develop his knowledge.
              Disadvantage, that in many cases it is necessary to buy a course or at least to listen to different trainings online. This is quite time-consuming (approx. 100 hours) and the final result is doubtful.
            2. Ordering a website from a professional website builder: This is one of the most common methods, as the company usually does not have the professional knowledge to create the website itself.
              The advantage is of this method is that it provides a quality appearance and will be suitable for marketing campaigns.
              Disadvantagethat it involves financial expenditure, and the company will not understand the system, so if something needs to be changed on the website, then an external service provider must be used again.
            3. Create a website with the help of a mentor: If we have a colleague with a technical interest or if we ourselves are interested in creating websites, then it is worth participating in a mentor program. Here, through online education, study materials and personal consultations, we can get the support to create our website ourselves.
              The advantage isthat the company can take care of modification and maintenance tasks in the future, and the site can be adapted to business and marketing goals and campaigns. 
              Disadvantagethat it requires an investment of both time and money at the beginning.

          What are the main steps of creating a website?

              1. Needs survey In doing so, we define the main objectives, the target group / target groups, and also carry out a competitor analysis.
              2. Planning: Based on the needs assessment, we prepare the structure of the website, the web design and plan the content of the individual pages / subpages.
              3. Website development: Here you need to select the domain name (if you don't already have one), as well as the hosting provider, and the website will begin to be created in a responsive manner.
              4. Content creation: This is the most difficult part of the business page, as the texts on the website are written here, the images and videos to be uploaded must be selected, and search engine optimization (SEO) is also part of this section based on the available data and analyses.
              5. Testing and repair: Nowadays, 80% of websites are opened from mobile phones, so it is very important that the website is visible on different types of devices (responsiveness). Repairs and user tests are carried out after checking the interfaces and functions.
              6. Publication and maintenance: When we feel that our website is ready, it will be published. After that, it is important to regularly update not only the applications used in the background, but also the content of the website.

            Conclusion

            Creating and maintaining a website requires an initial investment, but the long-term benefits, such as increased online presence and sales, far outweigh these costs.

            Market research data clearly shows that a digital presence is essential for modern businesses. If you don't already have a website, now is the time to consider creating one to maximize your business's potential in the digital age.

            Thank you for reading this article. If you have questions or need help creating your website, contact us info@goldencrm.hu and we will help you realize your digital presence.

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