If you’re in a situation where you have an offline, bricks-and-mortar business with one location (or several), you may not even have embraced the internet yet. This may make you feel like a bit of a laggard when customers ask about your website or how to order online and there’s no good answer forthcoming.
You may be questioning yourself, asking whether or not you should take the online business more seriously in 2020. We hope to now answer that question for you.
It’s a Mental Leap to Take a Business Online
When your business has never really been online or it’s done so with a ‘brochureware’ site that’s a catalog but doesn’t sell anything on the site, then the thought of transitioning your business model to include online marketing is scary. We understand that. It’s a mental leap into the darkness. Anything new is naturally scary. Also, if you’re not a big internet user – or avoid it like the plague – then it’s natural to be hesitant about the internet. And similarly, any marketing on the internet too.
How Much Does Growing the Business Matter to You?
Customers wish to order online. Either through a website or sometimes an app, they are looking for convenience above all else. A couple of clicks, choose a delivery address, and wait for the package to arrive. There’s no denying it that the last mile logistics can make your customers' orders delivery quick and easy.
Do You Sell a Unique Product?
Unless you sell a unique product that is not available elsewhere and isn’t easily replaceable with an alternative option, customers will order online from somewhere else.
They won’t usually “make time” to go to the store or to send in an order. Most are just too busy to do that. So, choose a product that is in your niche and that clients enjoy, and make its packaging stand out. Analyze your market competitors to see what designs they use to attract customers, and then collaborate with a packaging solution business like Origin Pac to obtain packages that preserve your items while also increasing sales.
Customer Trends and Business Size
Because of customer ordering trends, companies that don’t offer online ordering through eCommerce facilities will increasingly see existing customers switch to competitors who do. Also, new customers will be difficult to obtain as soon as they realize that “online” is not one of your sales channels.
As a result, it will become increasingly difficult to even stay at your current sales level.
This is true even for services. People look online for things like “what can a Philadelphia truck accident lawyer do for you” and then they start looking for the attorney. Getting them to your site is more difficult than ever.
How Much Should You Embrace Online Business?
It’s completely up to you to what degree you take your business online and how much it embraces the possibilities of digital marketing.
Certainly, it’s worth having a modern, eCommerce driven website to sell your product or services. Also, customer support should be internet-enabled, so customers can email, live chat, or phone in for assistance.
It’s also worth developing an active email list to send marketing emails to them. This promotes your latest offers, provides useful articles of interest to your existing customers, and more. It can drive new sales, reengage with long-standing customers, and expand your brand’s reach.
Also, there’s the possibility of having an app developed. This is usually appropriate for large businesses but less so for smaller companies. They’re time-consuming to maintain and aren’t always necessary.
Certainly, taking online business more seriously is necessary. Business owners are leaving money on the table when they fail to fully embrace the possibilities of the internet.