Businesses that refuse to use computers or the internet are a rarity nowadays. Even farmers in rural areas have social media pages to reach out to potential buyers of their products. It’s not an exaggeration to say that establishing an online presence is a must for modern-day businesses. Not having one is a significant disadvantage. Learn more about the reasons why businesses should start and nurture their online identity and accessibility in the following discussion.
It’s easy
Many may have second thoughts about developing their online presence because of their lack of tech-savviness, especially when it comes to building a website from scratch. This shouldn’t be the case, though. Oxford web design experts say creating a website is no longer as complicated as it was before. Businesses that want a simple website or even an online store can use instant website builders. However, paying for professional web designers is still the preferable option for those who want a greater level of customisation and more features for their sites.
If you don’t want to invest in websites yet, it’s also possible to have an online presence through free platforms, social media in particular. You don’t need to spend money to create a Facebook page, a Twitter account, Instagram account, or other social media accounts. You just have to exert some effort and time to learn the ropes of effective social media marketing. If you want to attract audiences faster, you may want to spend on premium services such as online ads and post boosting.
It attracts more customers
Online shopping is steadily on the rise. A US Commerce Department report says that online shopping now constitutes 12% of retail transactions (from 5% in the 1990s). Also, the report claims that the total market share of non-store (mostly web-based) retail sales as of February 2019 was already higher than general merchandise (including department store) sales. Many consumers already use the internet to make purchases. The failure to exploit the opportunities created by the growing number of online shoppers is a big loss for any business.
It’s a cheaper and more expansive way for marketing and PR
Another important benefit of having an online presence is the ability to grow a brand or reputation. The internet is a fertile and inexpensive place for propagating brands and expanding businesses. There are numerous ways to do marketing and PR online, from email marketing to content marketing, guest blogs or paid articles, video sharing, online advertising, and social media promotions.
Moreover, having an online presence makes it easy to manage the identity and reputation of a business. It’s not only a platform for launching marketing campaigns; it’s also a dynamic environment for rapidly responding to negative information or issues hurled at a company or product. In the past, businesses would have to beg traditional media (TV and radio) to cover their responses to bad publicity or scandals. Now, companies only need to write posts online, and many will likely know about the message they want to convey. Sometimes, mainstream media may even cover these business developments.
In summary, it’s advisable for businesses to create an online presence as there’s hardly any hurdles to doing so. Additionally, websites/online stores or social media accounts can help generate more sales and profits. It’s also relatively inexpensive to conduct marketing and sales on the web.
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