It may seem like every business, and especially those in your industry, are selling their products online via Google Shopping, ebay etc. However, just because they have an online store set up, it doesn’t mean it is successful as not all products, and especially not all services, lend themselves to online sales.
But even if your customers don’t buy your product online, they are still very likely to be doing their research on the web, and this is where your online presence is still very important. There are over 20 million people shopping online and if your product can be sold over the internet then consider setting up an online store.
However in the meantime, make sure your online presence is presenting the right image for your company first. Your website gives you the opportunity of a prime real estate position on the internet and it is a place where your customers can find you, your employees and potential employees can learn more about you and you may even attract investors.
If you are running your own business, you will know firsthand that more and more people are ‘time poor’ and are looking for quicker and easier ways to get what they need – now. This is why online sales are so popular, but it is also why you should put a professionally designed and managed website out there. The internet allows you to compete on a level playing field with your competitors, regardless of their size.
Just because a company employs a hundred staff, doesn’t mean one of those staff knows how to design and launch a professional and successful website, in fact they probably don’t. This is where you can take advantage of the confidence of your larger competitors that they have already cornered the market (remember the tortoise and the hare?) because when customers are researching your products at home, late at night in their PJs because this is the only free time they have, your professionally designed and easily navigable website will shine next to your competitor’s token website which includes just the basic details.
What do you think of the Google shopping results?