Getting your business online: learn from the masters
In the UK, 9 out of every 10 adults use the internet1 and one in every five pounds spent on retail purchases is spent online2 , so if you are running a small business setting up a website must be a priority.
If you are looking to put your small business online, who better to ask for help than Wordpress. We sat down with them and noted down 6 tips for internet success for small businesses:
- Focus on the basics: Most customers will decide within moments whether they want to browse and purchase on a website, which is why speed and performance are so important. A good web partner will ensure that large files such as images will download quickly from your website, so your customers are not waiting impatiently to view your website. WordPress.com handles all of this for you automatically—no need to spend time configuring settings.
- Start selling online early: Allowing people to buy directly from your website makes it easier for your customers to buy directly from you, from the comfort of their own homes. WooCommerce takes the hard work out of selling online, helping you to set up a digital storefront for your business.
- Content still rules: Plan out what people will see and do when they visit your website. Many visitors to your website will not want to buy straight away so give your them reasons to visit other than to buy: how-to guides are useful for prospective customers, as are templates to help them plan a project related to the product or service you sell. You may not get direct sales immediately but if you can help your customers do their job, they will keep returning to your website.
- Enable site search: Customers expect to be able to visit a store and search for specific things like “blue women’s shoes.” Showing the most relevant products will greatly increase the likelihood that they’ll make it to checkout. The WooCommerce Product Search extension is one we highly recommend.
- Scale up functionality as you grow: Start with the foundations before adding advanced like features like subscriptions, bookings, and memberships. If you’re selling something new or testing a new treatment, you might want to test how receptive your customers are before you activate more features like bookings.
- Your website is your main online home: Having social media channels for your business like Facebook, Instagram, Google My Business, and Pinterest can extend the reach and engagement of your business. Connect them all to your website seamlessly through easy to use tools that can both link and display them on your website.
If you’re looking for an all-in-one website platform, WordPress.com is here to help.
