There are allegedly 4.2 billion social media users in the world and around half of those are said to regularly shop online. These statistics are staggering, and if you’re a business owner, it could present a range of online lucrative business opportunities. But it’s not just about sales. Having an online presence brings with it a whole host of benefits that in-person tactics and traditional marketing approaches just can’t keep up with.
Reasons to Have an Online Presence
Having an online presence opens you up to an even bigger network. Think about it this way: if you only have a physical shopfront and no means of selling your services or products elsewhere, you could be restricting your business’s growth and sales. But, by opening up an online store or version of your business, you’re accessible to more customers.
For example, you could sell more products using the shop feature on Instagram and even provide for a gap in the market. For example, vintage clothing has traditionally been sold in thrift stores but not all customers had access to a physical store in their area, which is where online stores like Vinted come in handy. In fact, this situation applies to a broad range of industries, as many people prefer the accessibility and convenience of online rather than physical options.
A popular example of this is the online casino industry, where virtual iterations of classic games like online roulette open up the doors to people who might not otherwise play in person. This could be due to the fact that the rules are clearly laid out along with strategies and an explainer on the different types of roulette. The fact that this information is available makes the games more accessible in terms of user experience as well as in terms of proximity.
Alternatively, if your business doesn’t have a traditional product but offers more of a service, you could consider online and virtual consultations. Similarly, the real estate sector has taken to doing video showings of properties. This has been a popular option as many prospective buyers prefer to take an initial look at the property from home before going to see it in person as a means of saving time if they don’t like how it looks on video.
You can communicate en masse. In this day and age, you only need an email address or social media following to be able to communicate with new and existing customers, suppliers, and clients. This has made it easier than ever to remind people of your key brand messages whenever you want to.
You’re able to provide a better customer experience. The truth is, whether they want to commend or complain about the service or product received, your customer wants an efficient and quick process – and being online allows you to do this. With a manned social media account, you’re more likely to see messages when they come in and can respond more quickly than having to write a letter or wait for your customer to come in.
You can manage it from anywhere in the world. Having an online presence provides lots of benefits for your customers but, as a small business owner, it also gives you more freedom. You’re not just restricted to one office address or shop front and can instead do business wherever you are.
Things to Consider
While there might be lots of online tools available, not all of them will be relevant for your business so it’s important to invest in the ones that are. To start, it can be beneficial to look at what your competitors are doing to see where they are online and which platforms they’re using. Then, you need to weigh up which aspects will benefit your business and which would just be a waste of money.
Next, it’s time to review what budget you do have and get some quotes as to how much social media marketing and online website/regular email marketing would cost. That way, you can determine whether you can afford it. While you’re at it, you may need to consider some training for your team if they’ve never had to take care of online sales or social media communications before. Finally, it’s important to spend some time familiarizing yourself with any online laws and regulations to ensure that your online activity meets all expectations.
There are a few things to consider but, one thing’s for sure, opening your business up to the online community can be a fantastic way to tap into new audiences, make more sales, and boost your brand reputation.
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