No business should be without a website today. Surveys show that shoppers who buy both online and in physical stores tend to spend more on average than others who only buy online or only in a physical store. Your website creates a synergy between your online and offline efforts and enables you to offer your customers and prospects opportunities that can bring them through your doors.
- Improve your company image
People will often research your business before they come to your physical store. They will go to your online website to see what you have to offer. Your website must be mobile-friendly because many prospective customers will use their mobile phones to do their research.
Your website is the perfect place to show off any professional certifications or awards and post customer reviews. If your website is SEO optimized, it can help you rank well for local search terms and you will keep attracting more visitors.
Mapping software from Show My Map can help you to create an interactive map showing the location of your business that you can embed on your website. This can make it easy for people who don’t spend a lot of time in your area to find your local business.
- Offer 24/7 customer service
Most physical businesses are not open 24 hours. A key benefit of having a website is that prospective and current customers have access to it 24/7. They can read about what you have to offer any time of the day or night and plan what they want to buy. You can show your opening hours on your website so they know exactly when you’re open for business.
You can generate leads and inquiries while your physical store is closed and follow up on them the next day. Many people do their research at the end of the day when they’re finished working and if you don’t have a website, they can’t compare what you have to offer with other stores.
- Provide better customer support
Create a frequently asked question (FAQ) section on your website, and you can keep directing customers to it for years to come. The same applies to tutorial videos you upload to your website. This enables you to save time and offer better customer support.
Your clients and prospects will be looking for any information that helps them make a buying decision or solve a problem with an existing purchase. If you can provide this information on your website, you will need to handle fewer telephone calls and you can spend more time on revenue-generating activities.
- Develop your email list
Email marketing is a very effective way to generate sales. By including an email signup form on your website, you can grow your email list. This means you can develop a greater connection with subscribers and market to them when you have any special offers or discounts in your physical store. Offer them coupons in your emails that they can pick up in-store to give them an incentive to visit.
- Use click and collect
Click and collect or BOPIS (buying online and picking up in store) can benefit your customers and your bottom line. Compared to home delivery, pickup can be more convenient for customers.
They can order at a time that’s convenient for them and they don’t have to wait for a courier to deliver but can pick up purchases when it suits them. Click and collect will benefit your business because it is cheaper than delivery and brings shoppers to your store.