How To Market Your Business Online In South Africa

The advantages of a web based existence for your business boils down to this: when you’re online, your doors are open 24/7. Potential customers can access information about you and the merchandise or services that you offer in as soon as, whenever that moment strikes.

So, you might be wondering how to quickly and effectively get a business on the web. As an initial phase, we turn to replicate what the customer can do when they walk in to your store or office. Which includes:

- Telling the storyplot of your business and your brand
- Providing helpful information about your products or services
- Making purchases easy and secure

These three bits of your website will be the beginning of a highly effective online business. In this article, we’ll walk through each step and exactly how it increases the success of bringing your business online.

Step one: Tell Your Story

When a possible client walks into your store or office, they immediately begin to see your brand. Every moment spent there really helps to create an understanding of your business. From your own location and paint choice to how you greet and interact with clients, you build a graphic and a rapport.

When you're able to physically interact with a possible client, you’re responsible for their experience.

When a potential customer finds you online, you lose a few of that control. You merely have a small window of your time to pique interest and get that promotion, all without saying a word!

That’s why it’s so important to truly have a strong, branded web presence. You can make this happen through constant messaging, images, and colours that speak to your ideal customer. Think about your brand when you:

- Design your website structure
- Create copy and content
- Choose images
- Select products or design your services page

When your potential client lands on your site, what would you like these to feel? What do you want them to learn about you? These are the components of your brand that your site should convey. Think of it as the same as saying “Welcome, come in! Take a glance around.”

Step 2: Make Your Offer

Once you’ve grabbed the interest of your potential client, it’s time to show ’em what you have! Your website needs to clearly display the merchandise or services that you provide.

If your business is product based, it’s important to have a simple and informative product listing page on your site. Something listing page is similar to an online catalog your possible client can flip through to find out about what you sell. Your product page is an important part of converting a potential customer’s visit into a sale.

To build a powerful product page, keep these tips at heart:

- Use good quality product images that match your brand and style where possible
- Use clear product titles and provide concise and informative descriptions
- Include size, colour, dimensions, and some other relevant information your customer could find out waiting for you
- Ensure the price is not hard to see and understand
- Be consistent; use similar size and style photos, descriptions, pricing format, etc.

If your business is service based, your potential clients should quickly have the ability to understand the services that you offer and how they’ll benefit. To nail down your services page, begin by listing each of your services and writing your typical elevator pitch.

Consider what you might say to a potential client if indeed they were standing before you. Next, whittle this down to a concise description that’s in regards to a paragraph long at most. Keep ideal client in mind as you write; imagine you’re crafting this message specifically for them.

Depending on the complexity of your services, you might choose to connect to a more detailed description page which include more information about the process, benefits, timeframe, testimonials, etc. This will come only after you have consolidated your elevator pitch descriptions.

Step three: Finalize The Sale

The last part Local business of ensuring a seamless experience for your customer is providing ways to finalize the sale.

For product-based businesses, this means providing a secure payment system. A web based payment option means that your customer can complete their transaction in as soon as, securing their business no matter when they connect for you online, or from where.

For service-based companies, you have significantly more options. You might implement a web based booking and payment system to capture your potential client in as soon as. However, with regards to the type of service you offer, your site can include a call to action that prompts the client to attain out to you for further conversation.

Take It Further

A branded website, descriptive product or services page, and secure payment system or proactive approach serves to reproduce your potential customer’s store in experience. While your online store can’t replace in-person interactions, it can open your doors for an entirely new branch of business.

Once your website is up and running, there a wide range of ways to improve your online business. Online advertising, social media and search engine optimization are just some of the items you’ll want to consider.

Need help starting out? We’ll work with one to build a site that speaks to your brand and helps it be easy for your customers to access your business any moment.