\n<\/p>\n
Computers at desk displaying growth charts<\/p>\n
<\/fbs-accordion>getty<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
If you run a small, local business, chances are you\u2019ve got some sort of a website. You may even be set up to sell a few products online, here and there. But you may not have tapped the massive potential of building out a real e-commerce arm for your business. And you might not realize just how easy \u2014 or how lucrative \u2014 it\u2019s become for small, local businesses to move online.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re still mostly bound to brick-and-mortar, it\u2019s time to consider a change. Here are some low-risk, high-reward ways to successfully scale into the digital world.<\/p>\n
As noted, you may already have a great website or even a decent online store. But it\u2019s likely you could be doing much more to make it competitive with other e-commerce sites in your niche.<\/p>\n
If it isn\u2019t already, your site should be hosted on\u2014or at least integrated with\u2014a platform that\u2019s designed for e-commerce, like Shopify, Squarespace or BigCommerce. Make sure it\u2019s easy to use, intuitive to navigate and has a clean, simple design. It might be worth having a specialist conduct a user experience audit<\/a>.<\/p>\n Perhaps most importantly, ensure your site is optimized for mobile users. Remember that 91% of Americans ages 18 to 49\u2014likely the bulk of your target customers\u2014shop on their smartphones<\/a>. Most web design platforms let you convert your desktop designs to mobile layouts almost automatically. But you still need to make sure the mobile version is attractive and usable.<\/p>\n Getting good product reviews on your site and on other platforms can do wonders for your business. Consumers don\u2019t trust brands, but they trust other people\u2019s experience of a brand or product. Positive reviews can be just as effective as hearing directly from people they know in real life.<\/p>\n Smallbiz Technology recommends that businesses feature reviews and testimonials directly on their website and social media channels, natch. But they also note that positive reviews on third-party sites<\/a> like Google, Yelp, and Trustpilot can generate tons of traffic.<\/p>\n To encourage customers to write reviews, they suggest offering customers free products or discounts as incentives. But note that if you sell products through a marketplace like Amazon, exchanging gifts for reviews could violate their policies. Alternatively, you can reach out and simply ask customers who like your product to take a moment to do a short write-up.<\/p>\n Your customer won\u2019t buy from you online if you don\u2019t make it as easy for them as shopping on Amazon. It\u2019s imperative to offer fast, free or cheap shipping and eliminate any trace of friction from the shopping experience. The smallest details can send a customer packing<\/a> even when they were already pretty serious about making a purchase.<\/p>\n Whatever you do, don\u2019t force your customers to create an account before checkout. That\u2019s one of the fastest ways to turn a ready-to-buy customer into one who\u2019s just closed your site\u2019s browser tab. It\u2019s also vital to offer a number of convenient payment options, including PayPal, Apple Pay and Google Pay in addition to the standard credit cards.<\/p>\n Packing and shipping your own orders in-house may save you money when you\u2019re just starting out. But as a small business, you don\u2019t have the infrastructure to keep doing that at scale. Eventually, you\u2019ll need to contract with a third-party fulfillment service. Shopify offers its own in-house option and maintains a list of other recommended fulfillment services<\/a> you can try.<\/p>\n One advantage you have as a small local business owner is that you already have a devoted following. You\u2019ve got people in your corner who support your business and want to see it flourish. If you create content that speaks to your biggest champions, they\u2019ll be excited to share it with others.<\/p>\n2. Leverage the Power of Online Testimonials<\/h2>\n
3. Offer Convenient Payment and Shipping Options<\/h2>\n
4. Be Smart About Email Marketing and Social Media<\/h2>\n