How to Market and Establish Your Online Business
The internet has integrated itself into every aspect of life, including business and commerce. Physical stores have decreased in popularity, and e-commerce is becoming a norm, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic shifted economic activity online. This revolution has also led to a saturation in the market; with so many businesses going online, it isn’t easy to stand out. If you operate your brand online, let us help you. In this article, we will discuss some ways to market your online business to a broader audience.
1. Social Media Presence
Social media accounts can put your products in front of millions of prospective customers. They also let you connect with your customers by offering support and answering their queries. You need to understand the social media algorithms to get the most user engagement. Post frequently and consistently, and make sure you use short videos. You can research your demographics and use targeted ads and popular hashtags relevant to your business.
2. Branding
Your brand’s aesthetic must reflect your business goals and products. Have a fixed color scheme or typography specific to your brand. Try sticking to something minimal and professional if you cater to multiple demographics. If your business falls under a particular niche, tailor your brand to its demographic.
For example, a firm offering consultation services must have a professional and easily palatable brand compared to a rock musician taking gigs, who may have an edgier and informal brand to cater to the demographic they are selling to.
3. Use Reputable Platforms
Your business won’t get much traction initially, so start on popular, reputable platforms to gather an audience before flying solo. These include freelance websites such as Fiverr for services and marketplace platforms like Facebook for products. Note that many of these services take their share of the sales.
4. Have a Modern Website
Three main things instantly improve the reputability of your website: a custom domain, SSL certification, and a secured payment system. Buy your URL domain and use your business name instead of crafting a free website on a host’s domain. Make your website secure through the SSL or Secure Socket Layer certification on your website. SSL-certified websites start with https instead of http. Your customers should also feel safe when making online payments through your website.
Consider the 3D Secure Protocol for online payments, which you can read up on using this guide from Riskified. These systems verify customer information before proceeding with a transaction to prevent payments with stolen or compromised cards.
5. Customer Support
Your customer may have several queries about your online business, so you must have a robust customer support system. Ensure you get back to the customer within hours; the lower the response time, the better. Ensure your contact details are unambiguously mentioned on your website so customers can quickly contact you. Consider getting an automated customer service system to help customers solve common issues rapidly. They are fast, convenient, and autonomous.
Endnote
As the internet continues to evolve and adapt, staying on top of the latest developments is essential to supercharge your business endeavors. Make sure your website, branding, social media, and security measures are up-to-the-mark. This way, you’ll retain customer attention and get your service or product out there properly to get maximum sales.