There is no doubt that the Internet has changed the business landscape. It has transformed how business is done, when, and where business is done. Companies are no longer reliant on people to close sales, restricted by traditional opening hours, or their geographical location. The internet has made business without borders and a 24/7 operation.
However, not all businesses are taking advantage of these benefits and are missing out on sales as a result. Is your business making the most of the Internet?
Here are three common mistakes that small businesses owners make:
#1 They don’t have a website
When people need to buy a product or hire a trade, the first place they go to is the internet. If you are not online, you are missing out on leads who, incidentally, are going straight to your competitors. If you are not online, how can new customers find you?
A website is one place you can showcase your brand and show visitors what you do, without having to say a word physically. It gifts you the opportunity of having a sales team and marketing department who are active 24/7 without the need to pay salaries.
#2 Neglecting their website
A website is like having a baby; you must spend time and affection to nurture it to help it grow.
Your website is a lead generating tool that uses SEO techniques for driving and harnessing the power of Google. Still, if you fail to keep it up to date by publishing new content, visitors may assume that your business is inactive.
Regularly and consistently publishing fresh and unique content demonstrates that your business is thriving. The more active your website is, the more attractive it is to prospects and search engines alike.
You must, however, invest time to research keywords and terms to include in your content carefully. SEO rich content is primed for organic search. Organic search is free, unpaid for website traffic, and is a highly effective way to develop and maintain a sustainable business.
#3 Not analysing the website metrics
Just the thought of looking at the website metrics may make you go weak at the knees, but by ignoring them, you are missing out on the chance to tune the performance of your website content finely.
Once you have got into the habit of publishing website content, you will be able to see which posts were successful and which were less so. Analyse the patterns. Does your audience respond more to shorter or long-form articles? Do they like it when you are humorous, or do they respond more to your ‘how to XYZ’ posts?
Of course, a thriving post is not just one that gets views; it’s one that converts visitors into paying customers, so be alert for peaks in your website traffic that correspond to an increase in inquiries or sales.
If you are still sitting on the fence about whether to get on board the digital train, it’s time to act. Yes, it can feel intimidating, but there is plenty of support to get you online. Once your website is up and running, you will be questioning why you ever resisted.