In today’s world, where everything is an online search away, it is important for every kind of business to have a digital presence. Be it a retail store, hair and nail salon, a gym, a restaurant, a children’s activity centre, a bakery, a medical store, a clinic, or an interior design studio, it’s a must to be found and increase your customer base.
What is an online presence? In today’s world, an online presence translates into more than the business’s website; it includes social media profiles, online memberships in business directories, and any other places on the internet that your customers and potential customers frequent and can find you.
The sum of all your web-based identities comprises your online presence and can be used to generate and grow your business and profits. Establishing an online presence helps you work smart and grow your business. Here’s how:
1. It makes it much easier for potential customers to find your business online
Many companies do not conduct business online, but it’s still as important to have an online presence. If you don’t, you may lose out on the opportunity to increase your customer base and get the word out about your business.
Most people – almost 80 percent – tend to search online to get the information they need and not having a website could cost you.
2. It earns your online business credibility and trust
Consumers don’t trust a business that doesn’t have a website. These people are unlikely to do business with you without trust, which makes it important to get online to make your company more appealing.
An online presence enables reviews, comments, and ratings, which go on to augment your standing and reliability in the community.
3. It enhances relations with customers and builds loyalty
In today’s world, social distancing may be the need of the hour, but so is social media. Especially if you are running a small or medium-sized business.
Social media gives your brand a voice, and makes it relatable. It lets you create relationships and know your customers – current and potential – better by letting them interact with your brand on a more personal level.
It opens up channels of communication so that you know what’s on your customers’ mind and can stay ahead of their demands.
4. It lets you use focused tools to grow your business online
There are many free and paid online tools that can help you grow your small business.
These include specific ones meant to increase your search engine ranking so that you rank on the first page when anyone searches for a nearby business to others that focus on social media management, market research, filing, scheduling, accounting, storage, email productivity, and so much more.
Choosing the right tools – those that help you market your small business, reach your business goals, and fit in your budget – is important.
5. It makes marketing your brand much easier
Your website and social media platforms work as excellent marketing tools – most importantly, they are also extremely cost-effective. In an age when almost everyone is online, digital marketing has a huge influence on the way consumers make decisions.
The “shareability” of social media and the flexibility of the internet allows you – and satisfied customers – to easily spread the word about your business. Online marketing also lends itself well to marketing your brand in new, appealing, and much more creative ways.
6. It lets you keep up with the competition
The internet is always on and available everywhere. This lets customers and potential clients find what they’re looking for in seconds, and it’s important for you to have a presence there along with the competition.
This also allows you to monitor your competitors’ online presence and gather information about their strategies and campaigns. You can also see where they’re going wrong so that you can avoid those mistakes and focus on other strategies.
7. It makes it easier to expand your business online
An online presence increases the credibility of your salon and goes a long way in building client trust. Your online presence can help differentiate your business in an extremely crowded market, and can be the foundation for a business that scales month on month.
It is important to use tools such as search engine optimisation and website optimisation for better visibility, which eventually translates into a longer client list
The time of ignoring the internet is behind us; no small business can do that in the digital age and hope to thrive. Building and growing a robust online presence is one of the most important steps you can take to take your business to the next level.
Let Boost360 show you how.
