Why is digital presence important for your business?

Why is digital presence important for your business?

There has been a huge shift from traditional retail-focused consumers to digital-centric ones over the years. It’s the era of digital consumers who have become accustomed to finding products or services on digital presence before making buying decisions. 

This is to say the digital mandate isn’t new. But it has become more pronounced as the covid 19 pandemic takes its toll. With the stay at home order and closures of physical stores, many more consumers are forced to move more towards digital. Even those who are hesitant are left with no choice but to turn to online shopping for rescue in order to meet their needs. 

However, while the digital-first and omnichannel retailers have been able to respond quickly, the traditional brick and mortar ones find themselves struggling to survive. Hence, if there were any lingering thoughts about the importance of having a digital presence for business growth, the pandemic has silenced them. 

Now, this is not only pertaining to only marketing or retail firms, other businesses with strong digital presence have been able to connect with their audience on a personal level. A thriving business leans on customer engagement. 

Therefore, 2020 has taught us the need for businesses to have an online presence more than before. Any businesses who do not have a digital presence will not only be missing out on huge opportunities but might also find itself sidestepped by competitors. Learn more on why you should have a digital presence today.

Expand your brand presence and reach

In a highly competitive business world, businesses need to extend their reach and get rid of the physical barriers. And this can only be made possible with digital channels. While you embrace the digital presence for a business, your audience increases as well as the level of competition. However, with robust digital marketing strategies and the right tools in your toolbox, you can reach a wide range of audience across the globe. Moreover, mobile customers are also gaining traction. Spurred on by the popularity of smartphones, and the use of 4G networks, consumers have access to products and services at their fingertips. Being online is a good way to tap into this wide pool of audience. 

Boost brand awareness

Potential customers will research a product or services online before making any financial commitment. And if you are nowhere to be on the search engine, you are missing out on a lot of opportunities. This shows that your digital presence is where customers reach out to find more about your expertise, professionalism and what you have to offer. If you are not present online, they can doubt your credibility and legitimacy as a business. 

Build and manage a positive brand reputation

If you have already set your foot on the digital platforms, it is not enough if you aren’t connecting with your audience and building your reputation. Connecting, engaging and interacting with clients is very important. Your website, social media pages and other digital channels can be used to educate your audience about your brand, portray your values and features, and set your business apart from competitors.  

While at it, it is vital to have a positive brand image since customers will likely search for you online before making buying decisions. This means your social media platforms and websites should be well-managed and updated to keep users interested in your brand. Moreover, any negative reviews or mentions will get potential customers scurrying to your competitors. In a world of online scams, and cheating, building business credit is vital to earning customers trust. 

Connect and increase customer engagement

With the customer being the lifeblood of any business, customer engagement is one of the most important aspects of any successful business. Gone are the days when business seems like an island. Consumers nowadays want to feel loved and valued, they want to connect with the business on a personal level, they want maximum satisfaction. Social media is one of the most powerful tools to connect with consumers. It can be used to make a strong meaningful connection with current and future customers. Customers that you connect with will be glad to do business with you and won’t even hesitate to talk about your brand to their friends and families. 

Boost business growth

The most obvious and important reason for online presence for a business is to generate more revenues and boost business growth. No matter the size of your business or the industry you belong to, having an online presence is critical for your business growth. Big brands like Coca-cola or Apple became well recognised, thanks to online presence. Small business also relies on the internet not only To operate on a daily basis but also grow their businesses. 

The point is businesses that are still focused on traditional marketing alone and without a digital presence will not be able to reach the new digital millennials. Hence, having an online presence will help to boost your brand (and ROI) both on and offline.

Anchit Sood February 22nd, 2021