4 reasons why your business should be online

These days, if you’re not online, you’re selling your business short. We live in the digital age, where people are constantly accessing and seeking information online through their smartphones, tablets & computers (or all three). If you’ve relied on traditional marketing and advertising in the past, people will now see your business name and immediately type it into Google to see what shows up. If you’re not online, or your presence is weak – how do you expect new and existing customers to find you?
To break it down, here are four reasons why your business should be online.

1. You’ll attract more customers

Think about how many friends you have on Facebook. Now consider if every one of them saw a review of your business or a portfolio image you shared – then one-fifth of them reposted that content to their own network of friends. There’s potential for thousands, even millions of people to see your business online instantaneously, with the simple click of a button. You might already have a solid network of clients, but being online will help you connect with new leads from complete strangers.

2. It’s not just a fad

The excuse that you don’t need to go online because it’s ‘just a fad’ has grown very, very old. The Internet has been around for more than a decade, and today, over 85% of Aussie households have access to the Internet. If you’ve ever looked up from your own phone sitting on a train, you’ll realise every other commuter is also glued to their screen. While traditional marketing avenues can still be effective –  such as print, television and radio advertising – any smart business owner knows that the future is heading in one direction: ONLINE.

3. You’ll make back the money you spend

Online marketing is one of the most cost-effective, time-efficient ways to get your services out there, especially if you’re a business with big ideas but a not-so-big budget. While expensive advertising spaces can usually only be filled by market leaders, the Internet has levelled the playing field for small to medium-sized businesses, who can now compete with the big players through an effective online presence. If you’re smart about it, increasing your online presence can cost you next to nothing, and positive ROI is very common.

4. Consumers expectations have changed

However, when customers come across your business, chances are they will immediately jump onto Google to learn more and read reviews. Research shows that 68% of consumers will search a business for reviews online before they decide to hire – so to say being online is important is an understatement. People don’t look up the phonebook anymore, and even though you might not do business online, there’s an expectation your business will actively maintain a website or social media page. If you don’t, customers may doubt your legitimacy or discard you as a potential option altogether. There’s a bare minimum standard that you should strive to achieve. Otherwise, you come across as a complete stranger.