Unemployment may be on the rise but so are new businesses. In the second week of August alone, 111,680 new companies were formed — a 69% increase over the same week in 2019.
One thing is certain: in uncertain times, people aren’t just sitting still.
If you’re still navigating the waters of phased reopenings, curbside pick-up, and delivery for your offline business, it’s time to also explore eCommerce potential as well. The transition might not happen overnight but it doesn’t have to be rocket science either. Here’s what you need to make the process as smooth as possible.
A Well-Designed Website
Companies like Squarespace and Wix make it easy for you to pick a template, sprinkle in some branding, and hit the ground running. These options can be great in a pinch but to drive awareness and sales long-term, your web design needs to be well thought out.
By design, I’m not just talking about how good it looks. Your website needs to function. The navigation needs to make sense and flow seamlessly from one customer action to the next. All of this also needs to translate across both a desktop and mobile experience.
Take advice from a fellow online business owner or seek out freelance web development help from someone, who can help you think through what’s important to consider relative to your product and customer. It might take a little more work upfront to get up and running but less work down the road to fix when traffic and sales numbers aren’t meeting expectations.
A Digital Marketing Plan
Every good website needs a good digital marketing plan. Your website doesn’t do your business any good if no one can find it.
This is where working with a professional might come in handy. As they’re developing your website, they can set you up with pages for blogging and other content marketing efforts to help drive SEO.
From an experience perspective, it’d also be worth considering where you could insert pop-up incentives to help drive sales (e.g., discounts, free shipping). These types of incentives can also translate to email and digital ads as well.
A Willingness to Let Go
Letting go is a skill that comes in handy at different times and stages of business. When talking about a major shift like going online, it can mean embracing the unknown. You have to be willing to accept and explore what you’re not yet familiar with and ask for help when it’s needed.
Alternatively, letting go can also mean walking away. As Kevin O’Leary recently stated, “There is no shame in shutting down your business if it’s no longer viable.”
Not every business is equipped to evolve and that’s okay. When one door closes, the room is made for other opportunities to reveal themselves. Do everything you can to set your business up for success knowing that if it doesn’t work out, it’s not just the end but a new beginning.