If you own a brick-and-mortar business, don’t be fooled into thinking that a company's online presence isn't necessary. Today with everything going on is living proof that it’s essential for all businesses to have an online presence regardless of what type of business it is.
Your business’ digital presence can play a large part in its continued success now and moving forward. One of the common refrains from business owners is that their previous customers don’t really need the internet to utilize our services and buy our products.
With today's disastrous affects of the Corona Virus is just another reason why this statement is false. And while part of that statement regarding their previous customers might be true, it fails to take into account how their future customers will find them as a result of not being able to find their products and services online.
If you’re still on the fence about creating or expanding your brick-and-mortar business’ online presence, we’ve put together a list of some of the best and most compelling reasons to get your company online.
If your brick-and-mortar business sells products, being online will provide you with even more revenue streams. Not only will you have the ability to sell your products on your website, but we offer other solutions and services to your immediate needs. We will also post at a later date about other ways to put your products and services online on marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy, among others.
Additional revenue streams can provide a nice cushion and even keep you in business when there's a shift in the economy. Again, the greater your online presence, the larger your reach, and the more likely you’ll be able to sell your products and services.
Anymore, the fact of the matter is that customers trust businesses with websites more than those without websites. Most likely, you’ve experienced this preference yourself. After all, what’s more appealing: A restaurant with a well-designed website, social media accounts, and hundreds of positive online reviews or a restaurant that has no website but an unclaimed Yelp listing with a handful of reviews?
You can think of your business’ online presence and appearance much like you would its physical presence and appearance. If potential customers see a run-down, poorly kept brick-and-mortar establishment, this is neither enticing nor appealing. The same goes for poorly designed websites and unmaintained social media or business listing accounts – they’re liable to turn away customers before they even get through that virtual front door.
Digital marketing is far more cost-effective than print marketing. With it, more means are available to you and in addition, it’s easier than ever before to target your ideal audience. You’ll have a variety of online marketing options to choose from, including video, email, content, and social media marketing. Again, these will take some time and effort, but the rewards are far more long-lasting than a direct mail piece, for example.
Things like pay-per-click and re-targeting advertisements or even sponsored Facebook posts will increase your audience and your website traffic. In many cases, you can see significant results with an investment of just $1 – $5 a day. With regard to selling your brand or your products, this is where your online presence can really shine. Potential customers love having the ability to peruse your products or services without someone selling to them.
Over 80% of shoppers engage in online research prior to making a purchase. When your business has a solid presence online, potential customers can easily investigate your products or services and things like customer reviews to get a better idea of whether they’d like to do business with you. Your business can easily sell itself thanks to a positive and impressive online reputation.
One of the most notable advantages of establishing an online presence for your business is the ability to quickly develop a brand identity. Typically, this is best accomplished through social media accounts as these offer the most possibilities for freedom and creativity.
There are all sorts of business social media profiles out there that run the gamut from snarky and clever to sweet and artistic. These profiles make companies seem more unique – in essence, they provide a personality with which customers can engage and develop a deeper connection.
The potential for customers to establish a more personal connection with a business is becoming more and more crucial. As the internet continues to evolve, it’s eliminating the ability for companies to be nameless, faceless identities.
All businesses online need to have the capacity to communicate and engage directly with their customers. If that one-on-one interaction is lacking, it will impact the public’s perception of said company.
When you establish an online presence for your brick-and-mortar business, your customers and future customers can easily learn about what you have to offer even if you’re not open for business at that particular time.