Key reasons why a digital presence is crucial for small businesses

The business world is more competitive than ever and if you’re a small business owner without a digital presence then you better get one soon because you can guarantee your competitors have, and if you don’t, then your business won’t survive long-term. Maybe you are not convinced by such a bold opening statement, so here are some social media statistics, courtesy of Hootsuite, to think about. 

Over 4.7 billion people across the world use social media, spending an average of 2 hours 28 minutes daily on the various platforms. The average user will visit seven social media platforms every month. Facebook has 2.9 billion users around the globe, and 66% of those users visit a local business page at least once a week. Instagram has 1 billion monthly active users and 90% of them follow a brand. Last year TikTok was the most downloaded app and boasts a staggering 755 million users worldwide. One more to think about; 85% of consumers research a product or service online before making a purchase.

Still not convinced? For those of you who still need persuading, we have put together some of the key reasons why a digital presence is a must for any business.

Raise brand awareness

Building a brand is challenging and can be one of the biggest drains on your budget. Traditional avenues of promoting brands such as print have diminished over the years and online is where all the smart money goes these days. The famous high street brands we see on television invest millions every year but thankfully with an online presence you don’t have to break the bank.

You can promote your brand for free on the internet and via social media but you will definitely need to invest in paid advertising and targeted advertising at some stage. You can build your campaigns around your budget and review regularly to find out what works best for you.

Your shop window

A digital presence makes it easier for you to showcase your products and services. Along with the compulsory website, you can create social media photo albums, create and post videos and much more. There are so many platforms and opportunities to show your target audience exactly what you sell and why they need to buy from you.

Customers can find you 

With a strong digital presence, customers will be able to find you among the thousands of businesses competing in the same sector as you and access your product offering. This is true even if you have a shop or office. Some prefer researching online before visiting premises to buy, while others rather do it the other way around. If someone Google’s your service in your town or city, your business won’t show up when they search. So not only will you miss out on custom but those prospective customers will go to your competitors and once they have them it is difficult to persuade them to change. 

Accessibility is another advantage because once prospects find you they can browse your products and services, view prices and reviews and make informed decisions.

Reach a wider audience

There are no longer any geographical barriers to who you sell your offering to. Not only are your products and services just one click away from anybody online, but they can also make a purchase anytime night or day. With satisfied customers from far flung shores telling their friends and colleagues about your brand you can quickly grow your reach in countries you probably never expected to. You’ll also reach customers who may live locally but for whatever reason can’t travel to your premises.

Builds trust and develops relationships

The purpose of social media for a business is to create relationships with customers and prospects. Trust is key when forming any relationship and especially in business. When posting regularly on platforms, prospective customers are able to engage with your brand and through purchases and communication, trust is earned. This leads to long-term relationships with loyal customers, which is priceless for any business.

If you need help with building a strong digital presence for your business then you can speak with one of our Digital Marketing Experts by clicking here.

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