Why You Need to Get Online ASAP!

February 14, 2018

Whether you’re a new business owner or have been established for a long time, you’ve probably noticed that the majority of small business owners are taking to the world of E-commerce. There are various reasons for this, and we recommend that you jump on the bandwagon too! Here are just a few benefits of bringing your business to the internet realm!
Reduced Costs
One of the main benefits of operating online is the reduced costs. If you operate solely online, you can say goodbye to commercial property rental costs. You also don’t have to worry about overheads like electricity, gas, and water bills. In fact, all you’re going to have to fork out is the cost of your website set up, such as securing a domain name and website design.
Extra Income
Even if you continue operating online and simply have your website as an addition, it can function as a means of additional income. It means that you are open for business around the clock rather than being confined to the standard business opening hours. It also means you can sell your products and wares to those overseas who may never have otherwise come across your brand. To profit the most from this, ensure that your webpage is optimised for smartphone and tablet use. Any individual or agency specialising in website design will be able to help you with this. While people may have solely accessed the internet from their desktop computers and laptops not too long ago, the use of tablets and smartphones to shop online is on the rise. Your website needs to accommodate this trend if you want your products and services to be as widely available and easily accessible as possible. This will result in increased exposure, sales, and profits. Remember that over 2.1 billion people in the world have smartphones, so just think of all of the potential sales you could lose out on by simply having poor mobile web design! Go beyond simply ensuring that your site can be accessed by these alternative devices. You should also guarantee that your products are displayed in the best light and that navigation between products, product images, and product descriptions is smooth and effective.
More Than Sales
Regardless of what your business does, it’s absolutely necessary to have a website, even if you don’t intend to sell any wares or services online at all! There are so many ways that your business can profit from an effectively managed site without even making any sales. First, it will open up your brand to the world, as anyone with an internet connection will be able to access your page. People will also be able to get a good idea of what your company is all about before contacting you or visiting your brick and mortar store or offices with a well-written bio or “about” page. Your general page aesthetic will also create a positive brand image in their mind. A second important aspect of setting up a site is to give potential customers information regarding your opening hours and store location. When people want to find out this information about your brick and mortar store, they’re going to head straight to one place. They’ll head straight to a search engine and type in your brand name. You want to ensure that they aren’t met with disappointment. Having a website will ensure that they get all of the information that they require to successfully make their way through the doors of your physical business. Make sure that you include several things. First, you should have your store location on your webpage. Make sure to include your post or zip code, as increasing numbers of people use satnavs to find their way from A to B. If you have multiple stores or locations, consider including a store locator feature. This will allow potential customers to fill in their current location and find the nearest store to them. Next, you should include opening times. This ensures that customers only visit when they can be greeted and catered to, rather than arriving at an empty store. Finally, having a working “contact” page or “contact” option will give your customers a means of communication where they can send enquiries and open up a dialogue.
As you can see, there are endless benefits to getting your business online. Just be organised and ensure that you tick all of your potential consumers’ boxes when it comes to attractive design and easy navigation. You’ll be up and going and reaping in the benefits in no time!

Mark Asquith

That British podcast guy, Mark is co-founder of Captivate.fm, the world's only growth-oriented podcast host. A Harvard, TEDx, Podcast Movement and Podfest speaker (amongst many more!), he's a wildly approachable Brit and Star Wars/DC Comics geek.

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