The current coronavirus pandemic has severely affected the world, with thousands of businesses across all sectors still feeling the repercussions as the year draws to an end. Many of these businesses were forced to shut down completely, some had to temporarily suspend operations until things normalize, and a select few managed to adjust and thrive using the digital platform. At this point you might be asking, how did these businesses successfully launch their brands online?
The new normal relies on remote operations due to safety guidelines required to combat the spread of the pandemic.
As such, companies who wished to survive the outbreak had no choice but to take their business onto the digital world, banking on strong online strategies to bring their products to interested customers.
If you’re thinking about launching your business online, here are a few tips and strategies to improve your chances of succeeding in the digital market:
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Choose the platform that best suits your business.
There are many different online platforms that a business can choose to launch its brand with. Be patient in evaluating which online platform can best help your business reach its goals.
It is important to find out early on which platform works best for your business so that you won’t waste any effort and resources on non-compatible platforms.
If your business wants to engage an audience with an easy-to-use and highly accessible platform, you can try WordPress to build your online webpage. WordPress is the most-used online platform for businesses because it’s easy to customize and already a proven platform for many successful companies.
Many online businesses also use the SaaS (software as a service) platform to deliver applications over the internet, such as Netflix, Salesforce, DropBox, and Google Apps.
The SaaS platform is a good fit for companies looking for a low-cost yet effective entry into the online marketplace.
Learn how to use and optimize SEO techniques.
If you want your online business to succeed, your online web page needs to generate a significant amount of web traffic.
The more web traffic your site gets, the higher the chances are of a customer making a purchase from it.
And one of the best ways to improve web traffic is by using SEO (search engine optimization) strategies.
A good SEO practice means building up your company website with high-quality content that utilizes the right keywords.
These keywords are crucial in improving how your website ranks in search engine results, and a higher ranking means better visibility and brand awareness for your business.
Learn more about search engine optimization with “Grow Your Galactic Empire with SEO”, our comprehensive guide to understanding SEO for business owners, marketing professionals, and entrepreneurs.
Make sure that your website works just as effectively on mobile devices.
According to a recent study that involved more than 3,400 customers, there’s a 30% increase in the chances of people buying online in 2020 than in 2019.
The pandemic plays a huge part in this statistic, as many people don’t want to risk their safety by buying things personally at a brick-and-mortar store.
Buying things online isn’t only the most convenient choice right now, it’s also the safest.
The same study notes that of these online buyers, a whopping 72% used mobile devices to complete their purchases.
Needless to say, if you want people to buy from your website, your online content should look just as good on a mobile device as it does on a computer.
In fact, given how dominant mobile shopping is, it would do your business better to optimize your website for mobile devices over desktop computers.
Learn more about web design with “Well-Designed Websites Are Mission Critical”, our definitive guide to website design for business owners, marketing professionals, and entrepreneurs.
Always keep up with the trends on social media.
According to David Sack, the founder of Yammer, “there is something artificial when everyone is agreeing with each other. It’s useful to indulge people who don’t agree, and see their viewpoint or force yourself to explain things better.”
Social media is one of the most influential platforms in the digital world. By maintaining active ties to social media and its latest trends, you can engage with more customers and build your brand further.
However, it’s still highly recommended to create a separate website for your business instead of launching it primarily on social media. It’s better to use social media as a support system to promote your business and increase brand awareness.
Focus on your official website first, but always keep an eye open for what people are talking about on social media so you can keep your online content relevant and up-to-date.
In fact, Pierre Omidyar, founder of eBay, once famously said, “one of the things I tend to do is open myself up to a variety of voices. I try to expose myself to the kind of culture shock that occurs when you talk to people who speak a different language.”
Create a unique branding style for better identification.
Joanna McFarland, the co-founder of HopSkipDrive, once said, “it’s important to realize that brand is much more than a logo and slogan. A brand is who your company is: how you function and make decisions.”
In this time when many businesses are bringing their products and services online, having a unique branding style that customers can remember you by is as crucial as ever.
Make sure to put on your creative hat in customizing your website so it appears uniquely attractive while also looking user-friendly.
Your logo should also be well-designed to reflect your business and be memorable enough for your page’s visitors.
While website design is very important in branding, make sure that your content is just as good, if not better. Your website should attract customers into visiting it, but your content should be exceptional to make them stay long enough to complete a purchase.
Learn more about brand management with “Branding: Set Phasers To Stunning”, our helpful guide to brand development for business owners, marketing professionals, and entrepreneurs.
Monitor your site statistics and adjust strategies accordingly.
Steve Ells, founder and co-CEO of Chipotle once said, “I’m always tweaking, always trying to make it better, constantly moving the levers and dials.”
Since your website will be your top source of customers once you go online, it only makes sense that you monitor its progress from time to time.
There are several tools you can use to check the metrics of your website such as SEMrush, Google Analytics, and AHREFs, so be sure to maximize your online resources to find out ways to improve your website.
Note that your adjustments and course corrections should not be limited to just your website or your overall marketing strategy. You may also want to fine-tune your business model, get tactical with your campaigns, or realign your brand according to the changing times.
“Five days a week, I read my goals before I go to sleep and when I wake up,” shares Shark Tank shark Daymond John, founder, president, and CEO of FUBU. “There are ten goals around health, family, and business with expiration dates, and I update them every six months.”
A Final Word on Launching Your Business Online
Transferring your business into the digital market is not an easy task. The online marketplace is a significantly different field, so you need to practice patience as you continuously improve your website and increase your brand awareness.
Online businesses have risen in demand as customers are trying their best to adapt to these uncertain times. To succeed in your online endeavor, you need to be able to support your client’s needs by adjusting to their priorities.
For example, restaurants have started frozen goods since they won’t be able to cook for a physically-present customer base at this time. Some food businesses have shifted to takeaway options so that their customers can continue to enjoy their food at home.
The one thing that online businesses have in common with physical retail is that the customer’s needs always come first. If you want your business to succeed, you must serve your customers as best as you can while adhering to their new standards.
(Source: Forbes.com)
