With consumers largely shifting towards the digital space, businesses, especially the smaller ones, understand that the key to getting more customers is having a strong online presence.
According to the 2020 Global Entrepreneurship survey commissioned by GoDaddy, the company empowering everyday entrepreneurs around the world, 43% of Filipino respondents said they are looking into creating a business website for their business.
“There’s a massive shift to get online for businesses, especially due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now it’s not only products being sold online but also services. Remote work and outsourcing are more widely accepted today than before the pandemic,” said Pearl De Guzman, founder of Staffz, an outsourcing services company for content, graphics and search engine optimization (SEO), and winner of GoDaddy and AXN’s reality show, Project GO.
Taking a business digital entails effectively marketing to engage current customers while attracting new ones. Wondering how to go about it? Consider these tips from Pearl to help make your online presence work harder for you.
Editor’s note: Put your venture online today with GoDaddy Website Builder. Whether you sell products or services, this do-it-yourself site builder comes with everything you need to promote your business online. Start a free trial now!
Related: 10 tips for small businesses to thrive in a pandemic
1. Take a multi-channel approach
When it comes to getting the word out about your business, being engaged in multiple channels can be crucial in attracting more customers.
You may already have a website — but if no one knows about it, they won’t come to visit.
When used on a coordinated and integrated basis, strategies like search engine optimization (SEO), email marketing and creative content like blogs on your website and posts on social media can all help bring customers to your business website.
“These bring organic traffic to your website and that means what you invest in these channels can help to guarantee you long-term results,” said Pearl.
2. Make your website easy to find
Your business website needs to be optimized for ease of viewing and use on a variety of devices, including desktop computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones.
Having a search-optimized website can also help your site appear higher on search engine results, as search engines consider website optimization for their rankings. SEO can increase visibility for your website as people search for the products and services that you offer.
“Organic traffic visits are usually by people who already have a specific intent in mind. Either they are keen to buy a product or to avail themselves of a service. They are much more likely to become customers,” explained Pearl. She added that when people see your website on the first page of a Google search, there’s a more than 30% chance that they’ll click on it.
3. Have an online presence that looks and sounds professional
Many entrepreneurs who are non-techies often get intimidated by the thought of creating an online presence.
After initially experiencing a drop in interest from potential clients at the start of the pandemic, she knew she needed to look at establishing a stronger online presence.
“I struggled with researching these things for a month, as I am not a techie. So, when I was introduced to GoDaddy Website Builder during the competition, I was really surprised how easy and convenient it is. In just three days, we were able to get a domain, and build a full, operational and professional-looking website,” she said.
Once you have a domain, the next thing to consider is choosing a professional email address. “When we were first starting, we made the mistake of not investing in a professional email, and we sounded spammy every time we sent an email,” recalled Pearl.
“It’s crucial as we are in the B2B (business to business) space, and we had clients turn us down because we didn’t sound legitimate. A business needs to have a professional email address for added credibility,” she added.
4. Choose a platform with accessible support
Part of business continuity in the digital marketplace is ensuring your platform runs smoothly, as any hitches to your website could slow down (or stop) operations. “Make sure your hosting platform has easily accessible customer and product support for immediate assistance in case your website has issues,” said Pearl.
Since switching her business website to GoDaddy, Pearl found them to be a one-stop shop for her digital presence needs.
From choosing and registering a domain name to building a website to protecting that site from malware and hackers, it’s all there. GoDaddy also offers a 24/7 customer-service hotline to assist customers along their online journey. To find out more, visit GoDaddy.com.
Editor's note: Got questions about putting your idea online? Get instant answers on GoDaddy Asia Facebook Messenger now.
