5 Reasons for Small Businesses to Go Online

In today's day-and-age, being online is vital for the success of any business. More and more people use the Internet not only to review products before they purchase them, but also to actually purchase their products. In fact, in India, there are an estimated 205 million people who use the Internet, and that number is expected to reach 350 million by next year! This means that as a small business owner, if you want to stand up against your competition and increase your success, you are going to want to take advantage of the power of the World Wide Web.

It’s challenging to start a successful business at all; but if you want to ensure your success, establishing your business online is vital. You may not think of your business as particularly “Internet-friendly”, or you may think that it is only suitable for your local area; but think again. Bringing your small business online can have an amazing impact on your success.

Here are five reasons why you need to bring your small business online.

1. Expand Your Reach

One of the biggest reasons to bring your small business online is that you have the ability to expand your reach. One of the biggest and most important factors of remaining successful is constantly attracting new clients. The World Wide Web literally expands the reach of your business to the, well – world! When you bring your small business online, you have the ability to sell your products to a global audience. Your small business in San Francisco could become a favorite place for people to shop in New York, Brazil and Paris!

2. More Cost Effective
While traditional forms of advertising for your small business may be effective, they can also be costly. Print, radio and television ads can be very powerful means of advertising your business, but they usually come with hefty price tags. A website is much less expensive to build and to maintain, and it reaches an even bigger audience than traditional marketing methods, which means that you get a whole lot more bang for your buck when you bring your small business onto the Web.

3. Get Social

When you bring your small business onto the Internet, you get to take advantage of another huge benefit; being social! Social media is one of the most powerful marketing tactics in today’s business world. When you consider that there are literally millions of people who use sites like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube on a daily basis, it only makes sense that they are a powerful marketing platform for businesses. In fact, according to Fox Business, 83 percent of small businesses are already using Facebook for advertising, and that number is sure to rise. This statistic certifies the powerful impact that small businesses are having using social media for marketing.

4. Build Your Brand

Your brand is one of the most important aspects of your business, and a website can help you build that brand. Today’s consumers research before they buy a product, which means that the more confidence they have in your products, the more likely you will be to buy them. Approximately 57 million people are looking for brand related information in India. That being said, your website can serve as a powerful source for building your brand, which can help to build confidence and trust in your potential customers, turning them into definite customers. Include the option to allow your customers to leave feedback on your site and you’ll build your brand, and trust, in your business.

5. Get Referrals

The Internet is a wonderful way to build referrals for your business. Whenever someone is impressed with your business and wants to recommend it to someone, they can easily do so by sharing links to your website on their own website, on their social media page, on a forum or in a number of other ways. The more referrals your website has, the more success your business will enjoy.