Going digital with your business – the must ‘gets’

March 8, 2018 Off By David
If you’re starting up a small business or recently started running one, then have you thought about how you’re going to make it stand out on the net? It doesn’t matter what the nature of your company is; you should be looking for as many opportunities as possible to promote your products and services through a website and across social media channels. Being a small organization, you probably don’t have the budget to hire a full-time member of staff dedicated to digital. Don’t worry; there are still things you can do to get your presence out there. Here are some of the top ‘gets’ you need to be thinking about. 
 

Get your branding together 

Going digital should be at the heart of your business plan, it should be your strategy for selling. As part of the plan, you need to have a clear idea of what your company is, what you’re selling and who your target market is. Why is this important when we’re talking about web stuff? It’s because you need to have a clear, defined brand identity before you start launching a website and social media channels. If you don’t have a logo and who your customers are in mind, then how can you devise and target content through digital channels? You need to be clear about who it is you want to reach, and the best ways to connect with them, if you want to maximize your chances of success! 

Get a great website 

Once upon a time, most companies sold their products and services through a bricks and mortar shop – with advertising in the local newspapers and maybe on the radio. Yes, there are still stores out there in the streets, but many small businesses don’t need all that anymore with the digital opportunities out there. 

The key thing is to get your digital shopfront up and running, and this is your website. It is going to be the platform and the portal that sells your goods and services to your market. It needs to incorporate your branding and company ethos, and turn visits into sales. So, think about it carefully. If your small company doesn’t have the know-how to get a website together, then think about hiring some expert external help to design the look of the site and to advise you on content. There is a wealth of inspiration out there – check out small business web designs to give you some ideas. 

Get some social media  

Don’t think a website is enough when it comes to having a strong digital presence for your company. You also need to be getting social, as in getting your business some fab looking social media profiles. You need to set up accounts on all the main platforms. You should be looking at the likes of Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Remember, these are also an extension of your company; they need to be branded and look the business. 

Your social media channels are a great way to connect with your customers, and potential customers, in a much more personal way. So, make sure you interact, post lots of content and regularly, and make the best use of them.