If you run a practice or small business and you don’t have a website yet, you’re not alone. In fact, a recent study showed that about 46 percent of small businesses (those with less than 10 employees) don’t have a website for their company. If you own one of these small businesses, you’re missing out on an invaluable tool for growing and retaining a client base.

Websites not only allow you to market your practice online and reach new clients, they also give you a platform to offer services to current clients which will keep them happy and loyal. Not convinced that your practice needs its own website? Here are a few more reasons why a web presence is crucial in today’s digital age.

A Wide Audience of Potential Clients

One of the best reasons to create a website for your practice is that there are so many people online! There are currently more than 3.5 billion people using the internet. Creating a page for your business online means that all of those internet users can discover you — which is a great way to build your client base. Also, having a website well-optimized for search engines like Google and Bing helps you rank well, making it even easier for potential patients to discover you in a search.

A Convenient Communication Platform

Your website can be a useful resource for potential clients by including helpful information, such as a frequently asked questions page, a contact form, or testimonials from former clients or partners. You can also use your page to offer your current clients the ability to book appointments online, get in touch with you, or read news and updates about your practice. Keeping your clients in the know keeps your practice top of mind, and allows you to provide additional information to potential clients.

Keep Up With Competitors

Because of the importance and power of the internet, there’s a good chance that your competitors already have a website. By creating your own page, you can ensure that you stay at the forefront — and that you don’t lose business to competitors whose clients found them online.

Build Credibility

First impressions are important — and having a professionally designed website can be the key to presenting a great one. According to a report on web credibility by the Stanford Persuasive Technology Lab, 75 percent of users actually make judgments about a business’s credibility simply by looking at the design of its website. Thus, having a website that looks aesthetically-pleasing and is intuitive for visitors to use builds trust. It also shows potential clients that you care enough and have the resources to make things easy for them.

If you are hoping to build a digital presence for your practice, it can be helpful to outsource help. Outsourcing your web design and page updates to a team of experts takes one marketing task off your plate — so you can spend your time focusing on the stuff that really matters.