The Reasons Why Small Business Needs an Online Presence

Why Small Business Needs an Online Presence

Giving your small business an online presence means more than simply putting up a little website with your company's address and phone number. It means setting up a virtual version of your business, with a welcoming, informative website, a Facebook page and Twitter account. In this electronic era, more people search online for the products and services they need as opposed to searching through a phone book. Ignoring this important potential marketing platform is akin to saying, "I don't need any new business."

Accessibility
The Internet never sleeps, and every portal you offer online gives your business a virtual 24-hour showroom. This allows potential customers to research your product or service after business hours, and in the privacy of their own home. If you sell products, an online store allows for 24-hour order placement to capture a sale as soon as a customer is interested, as opposed to waiting for your brick-and-mortar store to open, by which time the urge to buy may have passed.

Brand Building
At its core, "brand building" actually means building a potential customer's trust in your company or product. Providing an online presence not only gives a customer access to your product or service, but it also provides a way for the customer to "check out" your company. Online reviews, your interactions with other customers and the frequency and quality of your posts help to form a positive impression of your company in the potential customer's mind, making a future sale more likely.

Greater Audience
The Internet encompasses a much larger area than the few miles local to your business' office or store. Your Web presence reaches out to everyone who passes by your virtual doorstep, which could include people from right next door or in another country. Depending on your specific industry and offerings, this could open up a much wider customer base than relying on face-to-face interactions would.

Reviews
Some may consider reviews a double-edged sword of conducting business on the World Wide Web, as there will always be that possibility of a receiving a negative one, fairly or not. But if you run your business honestly and treat your customers well, these should be isolated incidents, outnumbered by the many raving reviews left by your satisfied customers. Potential customers often check for reviews of a company or product before using either, so always encourage happy customers to leave reviews on rating sites such as Yelp or Google Places.

Easier Selling and Marketing
It's a well-known marketing fact that people like to buy but don't like to be sold. A well-written piece of copy for your products or services on your website allow buyers to make a more relaxed, informed decision to purchase, as opposed to feeling pressured by a possible pushy salesperson. Marketing your business is also easier and more far reaching, as the electronic format allows for a wider, more cost-effective distribution as opposed to traditional marketing, which usually included printing and mailing costs.


Thanks and regards,
Links Infotech
www.linksinfotech.com

Definition of Online Marketing

Definition of Online Marketing

Reaching out to consumers and establishing a brand is an important part of succeeding in business. Without marketing solutions, a business has a very high chance of failure. Online marketing is a strategy that helps build up a company’s reputation and exposure online by using a variety of internet tools and solutions.

Before it is possible to understand the different strategies and marketing tools that are available, it is important to identify what online marketing is and how it promotes a business.

Online marketing, which is also called internet marketing or online advertising, is any tool, strategy or method of getting the company name out to the public. The advertisements can take many different forms and some strategies focus on subtle messages rather than clear-cut advertisements.

But, the way that it promotes a business is simple: it builds up the company reputation by increasing its ability to be found online. A large number of potential customers browse the internet, look for information or simply enjoy their favorite pastimes with an internet connection. By taking advantage of the online tools and resources, it is possible to get the company name out to the public and encourage potential customers to look further for information.

Links Infotech : Steps towards the new horizon............

We offer IT consulting services in multiple areas, we particularly providing complete branding, strategies and consulting solutions for your budget. Regardless of the size of your company, if you are a startup company or experienced entrepreneur, we will be glad to hear from you.

To give you an overview of our menu of services, below are details:

Our Consulting Services include, but are not limited to the following areas

1. Initial consultation
2. Business structure
3. Business Planning
4. Marketing Planning
   1. Branding
   2. Website building and SEO strategies
   3. Local Business Advertising, SEO, Google places, social media setup and maintenance
   4. Lead generation strategies
5. Weekly scheduled interaction with consultant to track development
6. Accounting services
7. Tax related services
8. IT Solutions
9. Phone and VOIP solutions
10. Integrated Cloud and Software Solution
11. Analyses and evaluation of the established business
12. Performance improvement of your sales and administrative staff
13. Motivational speaking

In order for you to make an educated decision on which consulting firm you want to engage, keep some of the key points of a successful consultant in mind.

Nowadays everybody who has an educational background in business administration or teaching business classes at the university believes he / she can become an effective and result driven consultant.

However, there is a huge difference when it comes to theoretical knowledge or real live experiences. We strongly believe that success leaves clues and that business consultation therefore must be taught by experts who have succeeded in building their own companies and have a natural passion to pass forward and coach others to become successful.

Entrepreneurship cannot be taught by someone who has never experienced the actual position of the person who starts the business and leads it to a flourishing enterprise.

The mindset and ability of the business owner to continuously overcome problems, adversity, frustrations and failure will make eighty percent of your success. This is where most people struggle, together with the fact that proper planning, execution and timing are vital for any company.

Why Your Business NEEDS a professional Website!!

Like many small business owners, you may believe your business cannot benefit from having a website or that a website is not within your budget. Or maybe you think because you don’t use a computer, neither do your potential customers. These are misconceptions. These 8 reasons show why your company NEEDS a professional website, no matter what size your business.

1. YOUR SMALL BUSINESS WILL GAIN CREDIBILITY

Today, more and more consumers use the internet to search for the products or services they need. Your small business will gain credibility by having a website. Without one, potential customers will go to your competitors that do. If you already have a website but it is "home-made", having it professionally redesigned will provide your business with a professional image which will inspire even greater confidence. For home-based businesses, this is particularly beneficial since you do not have a store front to promote your products or services.

2. A WEBSITE SAVES YOU MONEY

As a small business owner you probably think you can't afford a professional website, but you can't afford NOT to. Although the cost of designing a website varies, once it's up and running, a website for a small business generally costs under $100 a month and, in some cases, as little as $20. Compared with the cost of a newspaper ad, when you consider the potential market you can reach with a website, it is a very cost effective way to promote your business.

3. IT WILL ENABLE YOU TO KEEP YOUR CUSTOMERS INFORMED

Think of your website as being your online brochure or catalogue. It is much easier and quicker to update information about your products and services on your website than in print material, making it an effective way of letting your customers know about the arrival of new products, upcoming events, special promotions, or any new services you now offer. Unlike print ads which quickly become outdated, your website can provide current information and news.

4. IT IS ALWAYS ACCESSIBLE

A website is available to both your regular and potential customers 24/7/365 providing them with the convenience of reviewing your products and services when your store or office is closed. With today’s busy lifestyles, this is a great selling point when making a purchase decision.

5. A WEBSITE MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO TARGET A WIDER MARKET

Whether you provide products or services, your website will provide an alternative location to sell them. As a retailer, a website (eCommerce) is a great place to sell your products to a wider market; even services can be made available globally. Don't think you'll be able to sell your products or services online? Don't forget, even cars and houses sell online!

6. IT PROVIDES A MEDIUM ON WHICH TO SHOWCASE YOUR WORK

No matter what type of business you’re in, a website is a great place to showcase your work. By including a portfolio or image gallery, as well as testimonials about your work, you can demonstrate what makes your business unique.

7. A WEBSITE SAVES YOU TIME

Providing information to your customers takes time, whether it’s on the phone, face-to-face, in a brochure, or in emails. With an online catalogue you can provide lots of information about your products and services. Once your website is up and running, it is available to your customers indefinitely, saving you time. And what is time? Time is money!

8. IT IMPROVES CUSTOMER SERVICE

Maybe you sell environmentally friendly products and would like to share tips on how to recycle, or perhaps you’re an accountant and want to give your clients advice on how to simplify their bookkeeping practices. By including a FAQ page, adding articles or uploading newsletters to answer all your customers' questions you can keep them up-to-date. What better way to provide them with value added service than by sharing information on your website.