As technology improves and becomes more accessible to consumers across the globe, many businesses are seeing the benefit of embracing the online world to help them grow.
For many people, taking their business online may seem like a daunting undertaking, which is why we’ve compiled a shortlist of tips to help get your online presence up and running.
Choose Your Domain Wisely
The first step in getting your business online is choosing a name (if you’re a new business) and registering your domain. Your business name should capture what is unique about you and your business while also being easy to remember. Changing your business’ name after registration is complicated and involves lots of red tape, so choose wisely now.
Similar to your business name, your domain name is how you will be recognized online. Try for your exact business name if possible (and make sure it’s spelled correctly). Make it short and memorable. While being known for having the longest domain name could be entertaining, as is the case for iamtheproudownerofthelongestlongestlongestdomainnameinthisworld.com, the easier you are to find online, the better.
Set the Bar High and Make Service your Selling Point
While selling may be your end-goal, you won’t achieve the sales you need without the trust and support of your clients, which means your online business should focus on building this trust and showing them that service is your specialty.
In terms of being online, this means being easily accessible (try and ensure your site is mobile friendly) and that you are consistent with your feedback and quick at responding to inquiries. No one wants to wait two working days to find out if you have an item in stock, and they certainly won’t wait around for your reply if they find your product elsewhere, so make sure your response time is always on point.
Work on your SEO
Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, is one of the buzzwords that gets thrown around a lot when it comes to selling online, and for a good reason. If you want to be seen online, search engines like Google and Bing need to know you exist, and this is where SEO comes in. Your SEO ranking determines how often search engines will offer up your website to someone browsing the web when they search for something. Making sure you have a good ranking is key in getting visits on your site. There are a host of websites that can offer you tips on how to improve your SEO, so be sure to check those out when you’re looking to up your online profile.
While you’re working on improving your visibility, now would also be an excellent time to make sure you are covered in case of an online attack. Make sure your small business insurance policy covers cyberattacks and data breaches so you know you are covered should the worst happen.
Whether you are starting a new business or looking to grow an existing one, taking your business online will open up a host of new and exciting opportunities. Hopefully, these tips will give you some idea of where to start.
