Is a website still relevant in 2024?

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As we slowly but surely reach the end of the year (can you believe it?), I’m wondering about something I read more than once on the Internet. Maybe it was on LinkedIn, I don’t remember. Anyway, it was along the lines of “Websites are so dead in 2024 and beyond let alone SEO”. Of course, my first reaction was to fully reject that, like how dare they question the relevance of my job.

But then it got me thinking: Is having a website still relevant in 2024? I mean with the advent of generative AI, the constant rise of social media and the saturated market, it’s hard to grab a piece of the ever slimmer world wide web cake. However, I’m relieved to say that it is. Precisely for those reasons.

Generative AI can make your website relevant in 2024

Like I always say, “Generative AI might take jobs away from people but it’s not a reason not to use it. However, people with the skill to use it will take over people who were too afraid or too proud to use it”. This is valid for any type of field. Not just web design, web development and SEO.

Generative AI is a tool and like any other tool, like a calculator, you need to learn how to use it and not abuse it. Since the meteoric rise of ChatGPT, many people, myself included, have used the software to speed things up. But, some others, and I was part of it at some point, just blindly trusted the AI tools and blurted posts after posts believing that they would win the SEO game with the numbers. While it worked at one point, search engines, Google in particular, started to take notice and penalized the abusers, especially after the March 2024 Core Update.

So, can generative AI make your website relevant in 2024? Short answer is yes. But with a caveat. You need to be extremely careful with what you post and how you post it. As a suggested in other posts, the frequency and number of posts you publish are taken into consideration. You need to make sure your content is relevant, or useful as Google says, for your users. No need to bore your readers with a history lesson of an ingredient if you’re publishing a recipe. As long as you keep it clean, use AI to give you ideas, to get an outline that you customize afterwards, you will be in the clear.

Non exhaustive list of generative AI tools as of September 2024

  • ChatGPT
  • Mistral AI
  • Claude AI

The constant rise of social media

With the advent of Facebook, Instagram and more recently TikTok, websites seem to be less relevant. Just look at the number of linktree hyperlinks in people’s bio. They’re usually there to centralize other social media links in one place. Moreover, the rise of TikTok shops, as I can see with my own eyes here in Malaysia (the lobby in my building is filled with packages from TikTok Shops), business owners just need to rely on the platform and don’t need to do anything else like creating and maintaining a website. Their customer-base is there so why bother getting a website that you need to host, create an email address for and juggling between the tools and plugins? Control.

As a matter of fact, whether you’re only using TikTok or Instagram, or even YouTube for your business, it means you’re trusting an external company for your business. But the worst part is that you’re putting all your eggs in one basket. Meaning that if TikTok, Instagram or any other social media giants goes offline, there goes your business and all your hard work along with it.

This is where a website is still relevant. You can use it in conjunction with social media content. Your web posts can populate your social media and vice versa. This is why the synergy between networks is so important. And in the unlikely event that a platform goes down, you still have access to your website and people can still order your products or services. At least you’re in control of your activity.

It’s also now easier than ever to start a website. With platforms such as Wix, Squarespace and Shopify (although they’re really not my personal favorite tools for SEO reasons and limited options), you can have your website ready in a few hours without needing to code anything. You don’t know anything about HTML and CSS? No problem! Just use their intuitive drag-and-drop interface. Design your content, display your products or services and you’re in business! Of course the best way to get a website is to contact me and help me eat more carrots and humus rather than feeding a giant corporation but you decide.

Non exhaustive list of user-friendly web design tools as of September 2024

  • Wix
  • Squarespace
  • Shopify

Saturation

Finally let’s talk about the saturation of internet. According to Internet Live Stats, there are currently around 1.88 billion online websites. Keep in mind that only a fraction of them visible, the rest being in the aptly called Dark Web. That’s still a lot of pages, posts and other content. With 8 billion people on the planet, you may think that adding one more would not make you visible to your customers. Keep on reading.

The next bit is the most interesting, out of the almost 2 billion websites, less than 200 million are active and updated. And now you remember all the websites you started and left in the internet limbo, I know I do. More seriously this means that less than 10 percent of online websites are actually maintained somewhat regularly. This means that a well-made website, hosted on the right server and benefiting from powerful SEO techniques is guaranteed to help you get noticed, get new leads and get new sales. Yes, I’m that confident.

Non exhaustive list of hosting services as of September 2024

  • Hostinger
  • Godaddy
  • NameCheap

In the end while the website market may seem saturated, a lot of pages are just started and never finished. This is where I come in. Trust me with your online presence and let me finish what you started and accomplish your vision of a seamless user experience while driving up user engagement. This is what Yokan means also. It’s an omen, a presentiment that we’re bound to do great things together.

FAQ: Is a Website Still Relevant in 2024?

While social media platforms are essential for reaching a wider audience, a well-designed website gives business owners complete control over their online presence. Social media profiles are limited by the rules and algorithms of the platforms, but a website allows you to tailor the user experience and content to your specific business goals, ensuring your brand remains authentic and consistent.

Can a website still help attract potential customers in 2024?

Absolutely. A responsive and search-friendly website enhances visibility in search engines, bringing in organic traffic from prospective clients who may not discover your business through social media channels alone. With tools like search engine optimisation (SEO), a website can target specific keywords, improving conversion rates and drawing in visitors who are actively searching for your services or products.

What are the benefits of a website over social media profiles?

A website acts as your digital storefront and central location, offering much more flexibility than a social media feed. You have creative freedom to design the layout, use calls to action, and create a seamless user experience with contact forms, blog posts, and high-quality content that addresses your target audience. Additionally, with analytic tools, you can track user engagement, bounce rates, and actions per visitor—valuable insights that social media apps don’t offer at the same depth.

How does a website contribute to marketing strategies in today’s digital landscape?

Websites integrate smoothly with various marketing channels like social media, email marketing campaigns, and online advertisements. By centralizing your digital marketing efforts on a website, you create a consistent brand message and offer a platform where visitors can take actions that matter, such as signing up for an email list, purchasing a physical product, or learning more about your company history. A website also complements your social media strategy, acting as a hub that drives traffic from social media posts and links back to your site for a more in-depth customer journey.

Is it difficult to maintain a website alongside social media accounts?

Not necessarily. Many businesses use a dynamic website strategy, where blog articles, e-commerce product listings, and even 3D product models are updated regularly, similar to how social media content is refreshed. Advanced insights and reporting tools built into websites help track what content resonates with your audience, giving you actionable data to improve your digital marketing strategy without excessive effort. Beginner website owners can also leverage SEO optimization tools to ensure their sites are both responsive and search engine-friendly, minimizing the need for constant manual updates.

How does a website improve customer experience compared to only using social media?

A website enhances the customer journey by offering a more tailored, user-friendly experience than social media channels. It acts as a hub for customer service, with capture forms, chat options, and FAQs that answer simple questions quickly. An insurance company, for example, could provide detailed product information and customer assistance, something that is harder to manage within the limitations of a social media feed. By keeping customer satisfaction at the forefront, a website encourages visitors to turn into loyal customers.

Do websites offer better insights into visitor behavior than social media?

Yes, a website provides advanced analytic tools that go beyond the basic metrics of social platforms. Businesses can track bounce rates, user behavior, actions per visitor, and organic (non-paid) traffic. These insights allow business owners to refine their content and digital marketing efforts, improving user engagement and helping achieve business objectives. SEO specialists can use this data to further optimize the website, driving long-term business success through search engines.

In the social media age, do websites still offer cost savings?

Maintaining a website can lead to significant cost savings in the long term. Compared to relying solely on social media giants where you may need to pay for ads or boosted posts to reach your audience, a website can attract organic traffic through SEO. You also have the option to run email marketing campaigns, which are a low-cost but effective tool for marketing. The advanced insights and reporting tools offered by websites further help businesses refine their marketing strategies, reducing overhead costs associated with less targeted advertising.

Can small businesses or beginner website owners benefit from having a website?

Absolutely. A website, even for beginner business owners, serves as a powerful tool for establishing an online presence. With the help of beginner tools and SEO optimization, small businesses can reach their target audience and provide a sense of trust to potential clients. Whether you run a beauty products store or offer services like design courses, a website helps you market your offerings efficiently. Over time, this digital headquarters becomes a central component of your business marketing strategy, contributing to business growth.

Are websites only useful for e-commerce, or do they benefit service-based businesses as well?

Websites are essential for both e-commerce and service-based businesses. For service providers, such as consultants or local businesses, a website showcases the company’s services, captures leads with forms, and shares valuable content like blog posts. It also provides a complete control over your brand’s image, which can be difficult to maintain solely on social media. Whether selling products or services, your website is an all-around better user experience for potential customers who want to learn about your offerings at their own pace.

In the ever-evolving digital landscape, a website remains an essential component of any business’s marketing efforts, offering benefits that go far beyond what social platforms can deliver.

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