You have proven yourself a success in the brick-and-mortar world of business; but if you want to experience real success – success that will drive your profits higher than you have ever experienced before – you are going to want to move your offline small business online.
In today’s day-and-age, being online is vital for the success of any business. More and more people use the Internet, not only to review products before they purchase them, but to actually purchase their products. This means that as a small business owner, if you want to stand up against your competition and increase your success, you are going to want to take advantage of the power of the World Wide Web.
It’s challenging to start a successful business at all; but if you want to ensure your success, establishing your business online is vital. You may not think of your business as particularly “Internet-friendly”, or you may think that it is only suitable for your local area; but think again. Bringing your small business online can have an amazing impact on your success.
Still need a little more convincing? Keep on reading to find on 5 great reasons why you need to bring your small business online.
- Expand Your Read
One of the biggest reasons to bring your small business online is that you have the ability to expand your reach. One of the biggest and most important factors of remaining successful is constantly attracting new clients. The World Wide Web literally expands the reach of your business to the, well – world! When you bring your small business online, you have the ability to sell your products to a global audience. Your small business in San Francisco could become a favorite place for people to shop in New York, Brazil and Paris! - More Cost Effective
While traditional forms of advertising for your small business may be effective, they can also be costly. Print, radio and television ads can be very powerful means of advertising your business, but they usually come with hefty price tags. A website is much less expensive to build and to maintain, and it reaches an even bigger audience than traditional marketing methods, which means that you get a whole lot more bang for your buck when you bring your small business onto the Web. - Get Social
When you bring your small business onto the Internet, you get to take advantage of another huge benefit; being social! Social media is one of the most powerful marketing tactics in today’s business world. When you consider that there are literally millions of people who use sites like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube on a daily basis, it only makes sense that they are a powerful marketing platform for businesses. In fact, according to Fox Business, 83 percent of small businesses are already using Facebook for advertising, and that number is sure to rise. This statistic certifies the powerful impact that small businesses are having using social media for marketing. - Build Your Brand
Your brand is one of the most important aspects of your business, and a website can help you build that brand. Today’s consumers research before they buy a product, which means that the more confidence they have in your products, the more likely you will be to sell them. That being said, your website can serve as a powerful source for building your brand, which can help to build confidence and trust in your potential customers, turning them into definite customers. Include the option to allow your customers to leave feedback on your site and you’ll build your brand, and trust, in your business. - Referrals, Referrals, Referrals
The Internet is a wonderful way to build referrals for your business. Whenever someone is impressed with your business and wants to recommend it to someone, they can easily do so by sharing links to your website on their own website, on their social media page, on a forum or in a number of other ways. The more referrals your website has, the more success your business will enjoy.
With these five benefits, it is easy to see why you should bring your small business onto the World Wide Web.
Marketing Your Small Business Online
Now that you know the benefit of bringing your small business onto the World Wide Web, you are probably wondering how you go about marketing your website.
If you’re just getting on the Web, marketing your business may seem like an overwhelming task, but it’s actually not as difficult as you may think.
Here’s a look at some basic and pretty simple online marketing tips for your small business.
- Quality Content
In the world of Internet marketing, there is a phrase that you will become familiar with very quickly; Content is King. In other words, the content on your website is one of the most important elements. Your content not only tells the story of your business, but it lets potential customers know about the products and services that you offer, how your business works, it catches their attention and it keeps them informed and interested. And most importantly, the content on your website helps to attract new customers, and keeps your existing customers coming back again and again.In order to take advantage of the benefits of content, you have to make sure that the content you post on your website is unique and is high quality. It has to be relevant and it has to offer value. Pointless, keyword-stuffed content is a no-no and can actually harm your website. - Free Local Business Directories
Free local business directories are a must. There are several of them, and they are completely free to get listed on. Do a little research to find these directories and then submit your business info to them. Once your business is listed on them, you’ll become more visible to your intended audience. - Title Tag
When you visit your website, take a look at the top of your browser’s window. The words you see here are your title tag, and they should accurately describe your business. They should also be unique and contain keywords that people are searching for.
Cost Effective Marketing
If you are on a budget, you may be worried that you are going to have to invest a great deal of money on your online marketing; but rest assured that marketing your business online doesn’t have to cost an arm-and-a-leg. Here are some cost-effective marketing tips:
- Network
Networking can have a powerful effect on your online marketing, and it’s absolutely free! Get to know other business owners in your niche. Develop a relationship with them and create an agreement to share links to your business on their website, and vice versa. This “one hand washes the other” approach is budget friendly and very powerful. - Get Noticed
Create something that will go viral on the Web; a video, a blog post – anything that will grab the attention of your intended audience and that will be share-worthy. Once your small business goes viral, you will quickly notice a huge effect on your success. - Give Coupons
People love to save money, and coupons are one of the best ways to save money. Offer coupons and you’ll be more likely to attract attention and increase your business. If you offer coupons for discounts on future purchases, you’ll build repeat customers, which will also increase your business.
In Conclusion
In today’s business world, if you want to be as successful as possible, you simply have to get online – and it’s easy to see why. So, if you haven’t taken your small business online yet, what’s your first plan of action to bring it onto the Web?