90%
of consumers say they are motivated to shop at a business if they have an easy-to-use website.1
66%
of consumers preferred to be contacted through a digital channel, such as email, website banners or a business’s website.1
1 Visa Digital Transformation study, 2019 Maru/Matchbox survey
Putting your best foot forward online
If you’re ready to take your business online, here are some tips and best practices to guide you through the process.
Keep it simple: Customers stay longer on user-friendly sites. Most customers will decide whether they want to browse and purchase within minutes.
Embrace the digital storefront: Allowing people to buy directly from your website makes it easier for your customers to buy from you in the comfort of their own homes. A good website solution provider takes the hard work out of selling online, helping you to set up a digital storefront for your business.
Enable site search: Customers expect to be able to visit a store and search for specific things like “women’s blue shoes.” Showing the most relevant products will greatly increase the likelihood that they’ll make it to checkout.
Content is key: Plan out what people will see and do when they visit your website. Many visitors to your website will not want to buy straightaway so give them reasons to visit other than to buy.
Include how-to guides: How-to guides and project templates help customers plan a project related to the product or service you sell. You may not get direct sales immediately but keeping customers engaged and online means they will keep returning to your website.
Start small, then expand: Nail the basics: services, inventory, hours, offerings, testimonials and contact information, and then plan for what else you can add down the road. Features like subscriptions, bookings and memberships may come later, unless they’re the focus of your business.
Beyond your site—get social: Setting up social media channels for your business can extend your company’s reach and engagement. We cover best practices for your online presence in the running and growing sections of the Small Business Hub.