Tara Commerford, Vice President and Managing Director of GoDaddy A/NZ shares her Top 5 Tips for Taking a Business Online.
Despite strong growth in internet usage with now 88 percent of Australians using the internet daily (Sensis, 2017) and ecommerce, with Australia ranked as one of the top 10 ecommerce markets globally, surprisingly 6 percent of small businesses do not have a website. These businesses are missing out on opportunities to grow their business and deliver a better service to their customers.
Our research shows that the three biggest barriers that are preventing small businesses from building a website are perceptions that you need to have tech skills, that it will take a long time, and that it is expensive.
However, with tech tools at your disposal today, such as GoDaddy Website Builder, you can quickly, easily and affordably build a professional website in under an hour.
Here are my top 5 tips to taking your business online
- Register your domain name
When choosing your domain name, keep it simple on your first go. Your domain name should be easily recognisable so try using keywords that spell out what your business is or does. This will be great for potential customers that will have an easier time finding you among the crowd.
- No passion is too small
Irrespective of size, websites can really help a business’ success. A sleek and professional looking website can also help to build your brand image and provide an effective way to engage with new and prospective customers. And if time and cost is putting you off – don’t let it. It’s entirely possible to create a professional looking website in less than an hour – and affordably. For the time-poor and cash-strapped among us, it can be a great investment.
- Don’t be afraid
A huge ‘put off’ for people starting up online is the prospect of thinking it’s too complicated. Today, even the least tech savvy among us can get themselves online quickly by taking advantage of intuitive web building tools and platforms and the availability of impressive website templates.
- Desktop vs mobile
Customer behaviour is very different across desktop and mobile. While desktop or laptop browsing tends to be more casual, mobile browsing is often done ‘on the go’ with a specific objective in mind. For example, people will often rely on their smartphones to find opening hours, contact details, reviews, and even make last-minute purchases. So, what does all this mean? It means your mobile site will likely grab attention when it really counts, so getting your website fit for mobile browsing is essential
- Reaching customers
A business website is a virtual hub where existing and potential consumers can participate with your business, learn from it, and feel engaged by it – whether it be through impressive visuals, engaging content, or multiple communication touchpoints. A content-rich website is also essential for a robust social media strategy that inspires trust and confidence in your business. By promoting your content through your social media channels, you can also encourage interested audiences to visit your website.
Tara Commerford, Vice President and Managing Director of GoDaddy A/NZ
