These days, with fewer businesses operating solely on the high street and even fewer customers buying exclusively from there, consumers and brands alike are increasingly reliant on online trade.
Though the trajectory of digitisation in sales can be traced back to well over the last decade, this shift sped up significantly, and was crucial to the survival of many businesses, during Covid-19. And though restrictions are now largely lifted
Though the trajectory of digitisation in sales can be traced back well over the last decade, this shift was crucial to the survival of countless businesses during Covid-19. And though restrictions are now largely lifted, the rise in online trade shows no signs of slowing.
If you’re looking to get your business online, these are just three tips to capitalise on the world of ecommerce and make the most of opportunities in the internet age.
1. Social media
If you use no other online resource, social media should be your go-to.
Building customer loyalty is crucial to competing with big name brands, and will keep customers from choosing them over you.
Social media is a great place to cultivate these relationships. Don’t be tempted to spread yourself thinly across multiple platforms – instead consider from the start the best places to find your target audience.
If your customers tend to come from a younger demographic, platforms like Instagram and TikTok are ideal, whereas those offering B2B services would do well to focus their efforts on sites such as LinkedIn.
2. Digital marketing
Brand awareness is the first step to making a sale – rarely will a customer purchase from you upon first interaction, but once they’re well acquainted with your business, they’ll be far more inclined to choose you.
Unfortunately, in the online realm, it can be difficult to achieve brand awareness in any meaningful way which secures conversions.
Digital marketing is a broad term which covers a range of potentially powerful tools for connecting with customers. For example, SEO (search engine optimisation) is a valuable opportunity for even small businesses to target users seeking local services and boosting your website and sales platform.
For those with no prior experience, agencies like Maratopia Digital Marketing can advise not only on how to go about it, but create a strategy combining a range of techniques to target your perfect audience.
John Webster from Mumeemagic
3. Track your competition
It’s good business practice to keep an eye on your competition on and offline.
And the internet offers a great place to stay on top of your competitors’ activities.
As long as your competitors are online, you can keep track of their every move, so you know exactly what they’re offering that you aren’t.
And if they’re not online? That just gives you another opportunity to get ahead of the game!
Whether you’re a brand-new business launching online or an experienced enterprise looking to level up, these are just three tips that will help you transform your trade.
Andrew Griffith from Garden Furniture