The Benefits of an Internet Presence

Thinking About an Internet Presence For Your Company?

Consumer confidence in online retailing is growing each year. U.S. consumers spent $176.2 billion online in 2010. This figure is expected to grow to $278.9 billion in 2015, according to the Forrester Research Online Retail Forecast. Ecommerce sales now account for 8 percent of total retail sales, rising to 11 percent if grocery sales are excluded. By 2015, non-grocery ecommerce will account for 15 percent of total retail sales.

The increased adoption of mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, allows customers to browse online stores at a time and location that suits them. Around 65% of the U.S. population will own a smartphone or tablet by 2015, according to the research firm In-Stat.

The internet offers excellent business opportunities to small and medium-sized companies. They can expand their reach and develop their customer base in a cost-effective manner. However, many small companies struggle to make the most of this opportunity due to a lack of in-house ICT expertise. Empire State Hosting can fill that gap by providing access to highly-trained and experienced ICT professionals at a fraction of the cost of engaging specialist staff.

Benefits of Websites for Small Business

Cost-Effective Advertising

Websites offer a low cost advertising solution compared to traditional media. A website optimized to attract traffic from internet searches will be seen by many more people than a print or television advert. Websites are available to be viewed for a much longer period than traditional advertising. Rather than being available for a few weeks during a print or television campaign, websites offer the opportunity to advertise products and services for years.

Analysis of Customer Behavior

Internet analytics enable businesses to log and track everyone who visits their websites. A business can use the information gathered to understand which advertising channels are working most effectively, which web pages visitors view most often, and at which point in the customer journey visitors convert their interest into a purchase. By analyzing and acting on this data, businesses can ensure that they focus their advertising budget on channels that attract the right visitors, those who are most likely to convert to sales rather than casual browsers. They can also identify where they lose visitors and take steps to improve the customer journey to increase their conversion rate.

Round-the-Clock Availability

Operating a website enables a business to be available to new and current customers 24 hours per day. Whether customers are browsing for information, have a question they need answered, or want to place an order, a website allows them access to a business at a time and location that suits them. With the adoption of mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, customers’ expectations of round-the-clock access to information and services are increasing.

Customer Feedback

Websites allow customers to interact with companies and provide feedback on their experience. Savvy retailers display customer feedback on their website as they know it can encourage future business. A Nielsen Global Online Consumer Survey found that 70% of online consumers trust consumer opinions posted online, second only to recommendations from someone they know.

Niche Markets

The relatively low cost of running a website allows small and medium-sized businesses to cater for niche markets. These lower-volume markets offer low-competition, high-margin opportunities which can be maximized through an online presence.

Business Profile

Doing business online levels the playing field for small and medium-sized companies. On the internet, company size is less important than the quality of the goods offered and the level of customer service provided. An effective internet presence gives customers the assurance they need to trust a company with their business. By offering a well-designed website with ecommerce capability, backed up with a valid SSL certificate, smaller companies can raise their business profile and attract a wider customer base.

How to Take Your Business Online

Registering Your Domain

Registering your domain is the first step in creating an online presence. Your web address will become your unique online identity. It is important to register the right web address for your company. It must be easy for customers to remember and relevant to your products and services. Empire State Hosting’s domain registration service can assist you to secure a memorable website address unique to your company.

Designing Your Website

Your website is a vital tool in your marketing strategy and should reflect your company’s brand. When they visit your website, customers should instantly recognize your branding. Your website must also be easy to use. If customers struggle to navigate around your website, they may simply click away. Empire State Hosting’s web design services can provide you with a distinctive, user-friendly website tailored to your company’s needs.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

To be commercially successful, websites must contain content that attracts both search engines and customers. High-quality web content that has been optimized for search engine ranking is vital if your website is to attract and convert customer interest. Empire State Hosting provides access to professional web copy writers, who can incorporate keywords into unique content that will appeal to your website visitors.

Web Hosting

The speed of your website can affect your search engine ranking and impact the customer experience. If pages are slow to load or your website crashes during transactions, you may lose customers who click away to better performing competitors. You can be sure that Empire State Hosting’s web hosting service will provide generous bandwidth and stability of service.

Website Management

Maintaining an effective online presence requires time to be spent on your website on a regular basis to carry to technical upgrades, manage your emails, and update content. Empire State Hosting’s website management service ensures that these tasks are carried out in a timely and effective manner.

Technical Support

Effective technical support is vital for an online business. If your website is unavailable, customers may be diverted to competitors. When Empire State Hosting is maintaining your online presence, professional ICT support technicians are never more than a phone call away.