As a small business, building a digital presence is one of the most important steps you can take to grow your company. You can:
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- Improve customer service by making it easier for people to find the information they need about your business.
- Increase brand loyalty by providing information about your products and services that helps people feel more connected to you and what you do.
- Reduce inventory costs by allowing customers to shop online.
But if you still haven’t commenced your digital journey yet, here are the 3 most compelling reasons to do it right away.
Your customers have adapted to the digital age – yes, even if you’re a local shop.
Americans spend 23.6 hours per week online and 81% of people do their shopping research online before they go to a store. That’s a lot of time spent looking for deals, information, and products that could be found right before them!
But here’s the thing: your customers aren’t just doing this because it is convenient. They are doing it because they want to support small businesses like yours. They want to buy from someone who understands their needs and cares about the community around them. And that means you have an opportunity to show them what makes your business special—and why they should come in and visit you over anyone else.
With Americans spending roughly 5 hours on their smartphones every day, it is time to invest in either a content writing service or high-quality content marketing to build a digital presence that will help you get found online. After all, your anchor online is your own domain and website.
And let’s face it: most people would rather be on their phones than talk to someone in person anyway. So, why not leverage it?
Countless businesses have already begun packing their websites with lead capturing tools like live chat and booking forms to automate lead generation as well as enable customers to get in touch with them without having to call or email.
If that isn’t the power of having a digital presence, we don’t know what is!
It’s your first Impression
75% of customers assess a brand based on the design of its website. And rightly so because it is the first place people look when they are trying to find out about your business, and the first place they check when they want to make sure you are still in business.
Your digital presence helps build trust with potential customers by showing them that you are reliable and easy to interact with. This is especially true if you are in an industry where customer service is critical; for instance, if you sell high-value products or services that require a lot of dialogue before purchase (ex. software development, eyeglasses, gadgets).
Therefore, you need to have a web presence that makes them feel secure enough to invest in your company, or they will go somewhere else.
Also, it is not just about security—it is also about the speed of information. People want things fast and they decide whether or not you are worth their time in the first 0.05 seconds. If they can’t find what they need on your website in a few clicks, chances are they are going to leave and find someone else who can give them what they want faster.
Finally, having a digital presence lets people know who you are as an organization: what kind of values and beliefs guide your work. And it gives them access to information about what kinds of products/services you offer and how much those things cost without going through an awkward face-to-face interaction.
If your brand aligns with its customers’ values and spending potential, they will happily choose you over your competitors.
You can easily compete with the giants
A digital presence isn’t just a way to get your company’s name out there, it is a way to compete with bigger companies.
But according to Deloitte, only 12% of small businesses with less than 10 employees are digitally advanced. You know what that means, right? You are overworking your employees and slowing your growth by not optimizing the scaling tech and tools available at your disposal.
Although there isn’t any specific number of leads that a good digital presence can generate, you are potentially missing out on anywhere between 2 to 5,000+ leads per day by not going digital. That’s a lot of money you are leaving on the table–money that you can use to compete with the giants in your industry.
Moreover, if you are not on social media, you are missing out on an enormous opportunity to connect with potential customers, draw in new ones and get real-time feedback on your products or services.
Similarly, a blog is yet another great way to build your brand and connect with customers in an authentic way. Blogging allows you to share information about your industry and engage directly with people who are interested in what you have to say about it.
It also helps establish trust with potential customers who may not be familiar with your company yet, but will look at past posts as they get ready to make their purchase decision!
This means that if you aren’t taking advantage of blogging as a service, you are missing out on brand visibility that’s potentially worth millions as 77% of people regularly read blogs.
Remember that the best part about the digital landscape is that anybody can compete with anybody – regardless of the size – as long as they use the best SEO for small businesses or invest in a solid content package that can help put them on the map.
Deloitte’s research also revealed that 30% of small businesses hesitate to commence their digital journey because they “don’t have enough experience with digital tools.” Now, that’s a real barrier!
So, if you are one of those, our webinar can help you navigate the digital world in no time. Learn how to optimize your resources to scale your business and get your brand in front of your customers with the best digital strategies available in the market. Reserve your spot today!