How To Stay Ahead Of Your Competitors Online [Contributed Blog]

May 14, 2019 - 8 minutes read - Business Growth, Business Management, Contributed Posts

With digital businesses growing in popularity by the second, it seems to be getting harder and harder for already established businesses to keep up with the technological age. More commerce is done online and the high street is slowly losing its touch; the modern buyer operates from the comfort of their own home, scrolling down their screen. Unfortunately, a business isn’t likely to grow much further in the modern day if they do not become digital. But it’s a fairly simple and painless process to get the ball rolling. Soon enough, your business can become a leading member of the online market, making the most of what e-commerce has to offer.

Launch It ASAP

If you don’t have a website already, launch one as soon as you’re able to. Getting yourself established online quickly is so important because it allows you to interact with your customers and learn more about what they expect from your business. It doesn’t need to be anything fancy at this point, just the basics to get you started. You can tailor it to your specific needs at a later date when you have gathered more information and funds. Another positive that comes from opening your store in fast time is the greater opportunity for marketing your business. The sooner your website is set up and ready, the sooner you can begin building links with other businesses and telling the online world what you have to offer. By opening a store online you’re creating a port of call for 24/7 information and services, for users all over the globe. The internet never sleeps!

Make An App

A great way to get in touch with a wider market is by developing an app. Almost all adults in the developed world have at least one smartphone. So as a result of this, most modern-day e-commerce is being done through this channel and it’s becoming common for businesses to establish themselves on the app store as well as the internet. One big selling point that an app has is the ‘push notifications’ feature. This allows you to send messages directly to users such as any current promotions or news, encouraging them to click the notification and check the app, potentially leading them to make more purchases or at least develop a greater interest. Phones are usually carried wherever a person goes or are at least at arm’s length, so it’s basically round-the-clock exposure. Make sure to do your research and visit sites like Itellectsoft to ensure you’re getting great service when creating your app.

The Power Of Email

It may seem like an old concept, but a brilliant way to keep a large audience well informed is by sending emails. Most people have their mail accounts linked to their mobile phones. So despite the decline in personal use, email still prevails in a business setting. When setting up your website, make sure there’s a ‘subscribe’ feature, that allows customers to enter their email address when visiting the site. This enables you to send out information like discounts or updates to those who take an active interest, securing more loyal customers. It’s essentially a cheaper kind of marketing technique. But you can still get an immediate response and reach a wide range of people. You can also monitor how users interact with emails that you send, and customize them to develop more personal experience with the customer and have more specifically targeted campaigns.

Use Social Media

Social media is a far-reaching and affordable tool. More than 3 billion people around the world are using social media platforms every month, and you don’t need any special skills to get started. There are different features on different sites so you can create profiles on whichever sites are used by your target market and see their likes and dislikes to tailor yourselves accordingly. It’s common for the modern shopper, especially a millennial, to search online and on social media for reviews and more up to date information before spending any money. Will there be an empty page when your business is searched? You can provide a regular source of news and show the customer what you can offer them in a modern and accessible way, whilst also encouraging users to engage with the business’ profile. This, in turn, means you can get almost instant reviews on products and services and provide a better level of customer service.

Stay Protected Online

Just as a high street store can be looted or vandalized, any online platform can be damaged or lose profits. Many sites become victims of cybercrime, and this ultimately results in the customer losing faith in the security of their data and complete devastation for the business. Even social media accounts are not safe, so precautionary measures must be taken to keep your company free from malware and virus attacks online. You can find some ideas at globalsign.com. A good idea is outsourcing payment services to ensure maximum security when protecting credit card details. Customers need to be able to trust you with their data in order to use your services, so your reputation must be one of safety and security. Hackers are always evolving so you have the make sure you are too. Implementing protection needn’t be costly, and the small price you pay will be completely worth it to keep your business running smoothly.

Hopefully, these tips will give you the confidence to modernize your business and become a front runner against your competitors on the digital market. Getting online is a great way to interact with customers from all over the globe, finding new ways to get their individual feedback, and being able to offer them custom morning and night, 365 days a year, wherever they are. It’s essential in today’s market that you get with the times and make the most of the new services and platforms to ensure maximum business success.

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Tags: digital business, e-commerce, email marketing, Online Marketing, Social Media