There’s a lot of concern about businesses not having a website with estimates that between 40 and 60% of all enterprises simply don’t have a website and most aren’t using social media.
Businesses who haven’t bothered setting up a site, or at least a free Facebook or Google Places listing are missing out on customers, but even many organisations with an online presence aren’t publicising them well.
A recent walk down my local shopping strip went past nearly 200 businesses. Of them only four had a reference to their website or preferred social media platform.
Even businesses do have a website didn’t choose to display them where customers or passers by could see them.
Worse, some of the fast food chains that are running social media campaigns had no indication that checking in or liking could win a customer a deal which makes you wonder just how committed those business are to these channels.
It could be that businesses are afraid that referring to their online presence will encourage customers to move away from their physical store, if that’s the case most business owners are wrong.
Customers are expecting to find our websites even if they intend to visit our stores or hire us. Our sites – even if they are only a free page from Google or Facebook – should be telling propective customers who we are, what we do, why are we great and what hours we’re open.
Just as time is money to the typical business person, shoppers want to make sure they are going to the right place for the right product and won’t be wasting their time if they show up on a Sunday afternoon or after 6pm.
There’s no reason not to have your web page, social media addresses and other online contact details somewhere prominent where customers can see them so they can see how great you are. Should your competitors be telling their story, they are going to be getting the customers.
In a noisy, busy world we need to telling our stories both online and offline, peoples’ attention and time is too scarce to let an opportunity go by.