Fortune 500 companies don’t stop operating just because their employees head home. Instead, they use technology to ensure customers have 24/7 access to important information. The Marketing Recruiter offers tips on how you can, too:
Managing priorities. There's quite a bit to do when starting a new business venture in Missouri or preparing to invest and grow your existing small business. And while it's tempting to prioritize new technology and marketing tactics like you see big business doing, an area that is often overlooked is the process of choosing and establishing the best legal business entity for your business. For example, many business owners who want to grow choose to create an LLC because of its limited liability, flexibility, and tax benefits. As an added bonus, it’s one of the easiest and least expensive structures to set up and manage.
Provide your clients with ecommerce options. 80% of Americans shop online each month, yet nearly half of all small businesses don’t have a website, reports BigCommerce Editor-in-Chief Tracey Wallace. How many major corporations can you think of that have avoided this necessary tool? An added benefit for you as a small business owner is that online shopping means cash tracking… and one less thing you have to do each day. When your customers buy online, your website, if set up properly, will handle everything from calculating sales tax to determining your cost vs. profit.
Answer common customer questions ahead of their expectations. Your website is a key marketing tool that reduces the time you spend responding to customer queries. This includes providing information about your business that would otherwise require your continual communication with potential customers. Think about this: online retail giant Amazon.com provides detailed information about every product they sell. This bag of seaweed snacks is a prime example. Not only are there photos and nutritional information, but Amazon lists sustainable harvesting practices, country of origin, and recipe ideas right from the product page. Customers are further provided with similar items, an effective upsell technique that costs you nothing.
Offer highly-visible reviews of your company from previous customers. Considering that nearly 90% of consumers trust online reviews, it is in your best interest to provide these straight from your site. Search Engine Land reports that you need at least 10 reviews to impact buying behavior. Not sure how to ask for reviews? Check out The Review Solution. This company’s SaaS product is free and lets you post reviews to your Better Business Bureau account page, which can be linked to your website. Reviews essentially let your happy customers do the talking for you. Aside from posting testimonials, you can review companion businesses on their site to link back to your site. What this does is strengthens your online presence and increases the SEO of your domain. Reciprocal relationships are beneficial to all parties.
Accounting. Who counts money in your business? If you are still making nothing but in-store retail sales, you’re missing out not only on added revenue, but automated accounting, too. A functional business website serves as a cashier and accounting clerk all in one and will put you on the right track to creating a detailed business budget, an overwhelming chore for most entrepreneurs. You’ll need a budget to complete your business plan and to set realistic financial goals for your business.
Marketing. It’s no secret a small business website is a simple way to market your business. In today’s digital world, your site collects customer data, tracks browsing and buying behaviors, and will help you get to know your customers better. You can offer customers access to exclusive deals by signing up online for your weekly newsletter. Email marketing isn’t dead (there is even an entire website dedicated to the topic) and your site can help you capture an additional 10% in revenue just by collecting contacts.
As you can see, a website should be more than just an outdated static page that simply offers a glimpse of your business to customers. It is an around-the-clock workhorse that doesn’t require a break and can be customized to fit your needs and those of your patrons.
Our Thanks to Courtney Rosenfeld for her help with this article.