You can see how important it is to be online these days. The most obvious way to “digitize” is a website. The first websites were like online brochures describing who, what, and where.
Today’s websites can do more. Your site can help people research, chat with experts, read customer reviews, watch videos, buy items, track orders, and more. If you decide that a website makes sense to you, the key is to think about what your site needs to do to support your business goals .
Of course, it is possible to do business online without a website . For example, if you have a candy store, you want customers to find you, with or without a website. Think about the last time you had an apple pie in your heart. You’ve probably searched for something like a ‘nearby confectioner’ and reviewed your options. You can visit the website of a local candy store or find a good selection in local listings.
Some businesses create digital assets using local listings , such as Google My Business and Bing Places for Business . This type of guide allows businesses to publish details such as descriptions, reviews, maps, and photos.
These listings are generally free and are a good way to help your business appear in results when people search. In addition to local listings, there are review sites where people can feedback and you can respond. Critical feedback will give you an advantage over the competition.
You can also use social media as your digital presence . People all over the world use Facebook and Twitter pages to complete their websites or in some cases to replace them. Another way to reach customers online is mobile. You’ve probably downloaded apps or games to your mobile phone.
You can create these applications yourself and offer them to customers.
Applications can take advantage of the mobile device’s unique capabilities such as GPS, mapping and phone to connect with customers. If a customer downloads your application to their mobile phone, the next time they are near your store, the application can send him a special offer thanks to GPS. With the application, he can order immediately, so when the order is ready, he can go in without waiting in line, click on his mobile phone, pay and take the order.
Existing, mobile apps are often used as loyalty tulles to encourage customers to return . For example, for those who order for the first time with a mobile application from a well-known candy store, you can give free coffee next to the apple pie. In summary, whether you use a website, local business listings, social media, mobile apps , or all of these, the key is to decide what customers want you to do. Then you need to create a kind of home that achieves these goals. In general, these things are the gateways to your digital space to communicate with customers online .
