If you’re like many business owners, you may be struggling to keep your business afloat during these difficult times. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many brick-and-mortar businesses to close their doors, resulting in a significant loss of revenue.
However, there is still hope. If you’re willing to pivot your business model and take your company online, you can still reach your target market and continue to generate revenue.
5 Tips to Convert Your Brick-And-Mortar Business Into an Online Business:
Establish an Online Presence
The first step in converting your brick-and-mortar business into an online business is to establish an online presence. This can be done by creating a website and/or blog and social media accounts on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
When creating your online presence, be sure to include high-quality content that is relevant to your target audience. This will help you attract visitors to your site and build trust with potential customers.
Offer Online Services or Products
Once you have established an online presence, you need to offer services or products that can be purchased online. If you’re a brick-and-mortar retailer, this may mean setting up an e-commerce store on your website.
If you’re a service-based business, such as a salon or restaurant, you can offer gift certificates that can be redeemed for future services. You can also offer virtual consultations or classes to help generate revenue.
Promote Your Online Business
Once your online business is up and running, you need to promote it to attract customers. There are several ways to do this, such as paid advertising, social media marketing, and email marketing.
You can also get creative and come up with unique promotional ideas that will help you stand out from the competition. For example, you could offer a discount for customers who make a purchase online or provide free shipping for orders over a certain amount.
Provide Excellent Customer Service
Providing excellent customer service is important when running an online business. This includes responding to customer inquiries in a timely manner, addressing any issues that may arise, and offering a hassle-free overseas payment processing option and return policy.
You’ll build trust with your customers and create repeat buyers by providing exceptional customer service.
Hire the Right Team
As your online business grows, you’ll need to hire a team of experts to help you with various tasks, such as website design, content creation, social media marketing, and customer service.
If you’re not sure where to start, you can use an online platform like Upwork to find freelancers who are knowledgeable in these areas. Be sure to read reviews and check references before hiring anyone.
Converting your brick-and-mortar business into an online business is a great way to reach a wider audience and continue generating revenue during these difficult times. Following these tips, you can set up an online presence, offer services or products purchased online, promote your business, and provide excellent customer service. With a little effort, you can successfully transition your business and keep it running for years to come.