MAKING A SPLASH WITH YOUR ONLINE STORE

If you’re going online with your business, in other words trading through a website, then there are lots of things you can do to get noticed. Simply launching a site isn’t enough in such a crowded marketplace, where so many companies are competing for customers, including some of your rivals. You not only need a great-looking website that really sells your products and services, but you also must get it found and noticed.

A dose of SEO
When potential clients are looking for something online, they’ll just tap some keywords into a search engine, like ‘second hand’ and ‘car.’ You want to make sure that when they search products or services that your business is selling online, that your website gets found and highlighted. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? Well, it can be, if you give your website search engine optimisation (SEO) treatment. It will help search engines identify keywords on your website, and as a result, enhance your chances of appearing in organic rankings. These are the ones you don’t have to pay for, which means you are putting your company under the noses of potential customers.  
Don’t think you have to master SEO on your own; it is a skill. Many talented individuals and companies can help and advise you. It could be the investment that helps make the difference between make or break.

Look after your online customers
Online customers are as valuable as those who’ve traditionally been visiting physical stores on the high street, and they require the same level of customer service. So it’s vital that you don’t shirk on this with your website. Make sure that your site is easy to navigate around and the products and services are easy to find. Try to make it as interactive as possible, using striking images and video where possible.
You’ll also want to make sure that the process of buying a product is straightforward, with a simple payment gateway that’s easy for the customer to use, and guarantees that you will receive the funds into your merchant account.
The after sales service is equally important too. Make sure clients can reach you easily if there is a problem with an item, or delivery doesn’t turn up. Your contact facilities should be there from the start, just in case clients have a question about a product before they choose to buy it. A live chat facility may be worth exploring.

Think 360 advertising       
By 360, you need to be shouting from the rooftops across all your available advertising channels. In other words, this means promoting your website in every way possible, to try and reach the most potential clients. If you have social media channels (and you should), make sure you promote your website as much as possible, linking directly to its homepage or individual pages, tailored around the posts you are making.
When you’re doing e-marketing, make sure the website is included. And simple things like adding it to your email sign-offs, and business cards can all help spread the word.