In today’s world, it is impossible to think of a business idea without an online presence. Sales, which was once unimaginable without physical touch and interaction, is now happening with a swipe and a click. So what is driving online sales?
The answer is simple. Every person has a phone and the smart phone is making online shopping as enjoyable as traditional shopping. Now websites have a 360 degree view of their products, massive discounts on big brands and detailed descriptions. Like traditional marketing, we are now getting bombarded with various new age advertisements that is prompting buying behavior.
The new age marketing is not only making us buy but the new technology is also helping entrepreneurs with their business. We see a whole lot of jewellery makers, cooks, garment vendors, skill trainers setting up their business online. After working the traditional way with paper pamphlets, newspaper ads and word of mouth; one wishes to get more exposure in the online community.
Here are a few tips for small businesses to grow and sell online:
Online presence
The first thing about any business is being out there. Traditionally, you set up a shop and put out a grand sign with neon lights around it. People notice. In the online market, a big sign and neon lights are only useful, when you lead people to it. Setting up a website or a social media page is just the beginning of your business journey.
Your website or social media page can get lost in the ever-growing online market. To be able to reach the online community, your website or page has to pop up in Google search. For that you have to:
- Think of relevant keywords. Words that people will use while searching for the service/ product, you are selling
- Add keywords to specific places on your website
- Create simple content, which is easily read and understood
- Update and maintain Google listing
- Make the website mobile-friendly
Reviews
Everyone wants to know if the latest offering, be it a movie, a book or a restaurant is a hit or a flop!
Something new comes up and we are discussing it the first chance we get. It prompts our decision of trying or not trying the latest offering out there. What was word-of-mouth is now reviews.
Get your customers, friends and family to leave a review on your page or any of the social media pages they are comfortable with. Put a link or a hashtag of your company and it will appear in searches when other potential buyers are searching for the service/ product; you are offering.
The beauty of reviews is that one is sharing a personal experience, without endorsing the company. The user is not under the obligation of glorifying the company. Rather, a review starts with a pain point then goes on to explain, how the service/ product resolved the problem.
Get as many reviews as possible. It not only gives credibility, it will give more keywords to appear higher on Google search.
Connect with the community
Most mornings, we start our day with ‘Good morning’ messages from our friends and family. Some insightful quote brightens our day mid-afternoon and on special occasions, we look forward to the good wishes and greetings and would be offended if we don’t receive them from our closest people.
In the similar way, connect with your audience with a greeting or a quote. While posting though, make sure the post resonates with your company and the value it stands for.
The aim of such posts is being seen over and over again and to communicate the kind of image you want to project.
More social media presence
The more digital footprint, you leave all over the online community, the more traffic you are going to attract. Give your product sample at an exhibition stall and ask them for a review. Record their experience using your product / service and put it on social media. Get some social media personalities like youtubers, stars with a huge following to talk about your company.
- That brings us to influencers
Influencers are people with a huge following. Collaborating with them is a great idea as they know the pulse of the market and can reach your product / service to a larger audience. The influencers have a name for themselves and featuring your product / service with them can guarantee more eyeballs and more clicks back on your website / page.
Apart from concentrating on exposure in the digital world, you will have to ensure excellent product / service, which will in turn give you organic feedback.
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