Discover the importance of online presence for businesses. Learn how it enhances visibility, builds credibility, and drives customer engagement.
A great e-commerce website can help a small business sell more products, but a great online presence has more benefits than simplifying online transactions. Studies show that more than 80% of consumers conduct research online before buying, and 76% of consumers research a brick-and-mortar store online before visiting. Even if your small business isn't exactly a web-focused one, the importance of online presence for a business cannot be understated.
A small business with a strong online presence has the ability to reach many potential customers via a website, social media platforms, and advertising channels. In addition to an SEO-optimized website, it may also have creative, engaging social media accounts that showcase the business's products and values, as well as positive reviews and testimonials across multiple sites.
Thanks to this strong digital marketing strategy, internet users will encounter the business's content and know quickly what the business does and how to find it.
It's all about finding ways to connect. Why is it important to have a strong online presence? A strong online presence helps a business to establish credibility and trustworthiness, increase awareness of its products and mission, and attract new customers.
Growing a small business is challenging. Depending on your business's industry, you may have to compete with corporate giants as well as local competitors to expand your business. Therein lies the importance of online presence. Being active online will help your small business reach a wider audience, engage more viewers, enhance visibility into your business, and could even increase customer loyalty. The more people who learn about your business, the more likely you are to win more customers.
What is a key benefit of having an online presence? Having an online presence has several key benefits, but one of the most valuable is the ability of a strong online presence to attract both local and global customers.
More than half of all Google searches have local intent, so a small business with a strong digital presence is easy for potential customers to find. Using marketing tools to your business's advantage will help connect you to motivated local customers who are looking to buy now. Not to mention, the internet allows you to reach well beyond your neighborhood to attract customers all over the world.
Most people these days have at least basic internet literacy. The internet is so prevalent that a business being virtually invisible online is a major red flag. While you don't want your business to have a bad online presence, even a neutral presence highlighted by a functional, well-designed website can go a long way toward demonstrating your brand's credibility.
Your customers are online, even if that's not where you're selling to them yet. To grow your small business, you must embrace the importance of online presence. From helping to improve your online operations to setting up your business to accept contactless payments online, U.S. Bank's Merchant Services can help your business thrive in the digital age.