With smartphones at our fingertips, customers are searching online more than anywhere else to research a product. As a small business owner, it’s critical that you have a website ready for customers who are looking you up. Understanding why it is important and figuring out where to start can be intimidating. Here’s what you need to know.

1. You can use your website like a virtual customer service agent

Rather than calling you, or struggling to track you down, customers can find answers to the questions they’re looking for just by checking out your website. You’ll save time and resources. Customers are more likely to trust you and feel more comfortable doing business with you when they know you’re only one click away.

2. It’s like having a TV commercial on every channel

Once your company is online, it’s easier for customers to find you instantly. Customers are looking for information on places like Yelp and Google. If your website is already there waiting for them then they’ll be able to find your business easily, from anywhere.

3. Your website is a place of your own

You can set your website up to be custom and personalized. It’s a great way to display your company’s brand. The look and feel of your website can truly reflect your business’s culture and values. It’s a place where you can tell your story.

4. It’s actually pretty easy to set up

Lack of courage and lack of direction are some of the main reasons a lot of small business owners never get around to starting a website. You’re busy with other things, building a website is the last thing on your mind. The idea of starting from scratch can be intimidating. Not all small businesses are super savvy with back-end technologies. Hiring someone else to do it for you can be extremely beneficial. Keeping the website up to date yourself is often surprisingly easy and straightforward. If you do things the right way, it can be so easy that it can literally take minutes to get a website up and running.

5. There’s no time like the present

Seriously, get started now. It does not have to be the most perfect thing ever on day one. Start with a simple website.Just include a little information about your company, your products and services, and how to contact you. From there,it’s important to keep your website updated with new content and be sure to add social media hyperlinks for places like Facebook and Twitter.