Moving your small business online isn’t as complicated as it sounds. As part of our moving online series, here are some simple steps to move online on a tight budget.
Creating a functional website is the first step to moving your business online. To create a website, you’ll need to pay for a domain name and web hosting, and this decision should be made with your business in mind. Platforms like WordPress and Wix make this task much easier to understand and perform. Also, if you sell products and would like to run an online store, consider building an e-commerce site. In this case, Shopify is a good platform to work with.
After taking the first few steps to set up your website, focus on the site design. Remember that this website is being built for your customers, and a good experience with your website will go a long way in keeping them loyal to your business. Take some time to choose a theme that reflects your brand and sends your message across. And ensure that the site is designed to draw customers in. Don’t hesitate to bring in an extra pair of eyes (that is, ask a friend) if you need to.
Unlike mobile apps, websites can be built at very cheap rates, and we’re sure it can fit into your budget. Read our full blog post on creating a website for cheap.
With your website completely set up, the next step is to add high-quality content. Good content attracts customers to your site and, at the same time, optimizes the site to rank higher in search results. Start by adding content on the key sections of the website (Home page, About Us page, Features page, and so on). You can also add a blog where you write about your products/services, give tips to customers, share success stories, and so on. Use pictures and videos to make your content more interesting.
If you’re running an online store, you definitely need to create a payment system on your site. Now more than ever, there are so many choices to pick from, and it’s important that you consider them carefully. Also, your payment system should give your customers more freedom, letting them pay with credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and so on. Platforms like Stripe and Paystack help you achieve this with ease. If you’ve built a site on Shopify, then their payment solution called Shopify Payments is the way to go.
Connect your social media accounts to your website in two steps. First, add the links to your social media channels on your website. You can even add a feature on your site that shows your live Twitter feed. Next, set up social media accounts for your business and add your website link to them.
Social media helps you stay in touch with your customers and let them know about your business, and makes it much easier for them to interact with you. Whether your customers prefer messaging you on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn, you’ll be there to meet them wherever they are.
No matter what product/service you offer, the internet has been created for you to keep growing your brand, and so moving your small business online is guaranteed to increase your productivity. Going forward, you can be sure that businesses without a strong online presence will remain at the losing end of the market game. Use the tips above to go online, reach more customers, and make more profits today.
Simple inventory and accounting software for your small, medium, or large business
