Whether you are an entrepreneur or already own a business, creating a business and navigating the rigours of the business world is always an immense challenge. Without the stability afforded by a “9-5 job,” an additional drive and bags of self-motivation are required to be successful. The task is made especially difficult with an ever-changing society that is constantly welcoming new ideas and innovations that are shaping the way business is conducted.
While opening a high street shop remains a common approach to building a presence, the gradual shift to an online world is forcing entrepreneurs and small business owners into a rethink that can have significant implications on the operation of a business. With the digital world continuing to extent its influence over society, having an online presence has never been more valuable. Here are a few reasons why getting ahead of the curve and claiming your space in the online world can be a huge benefit later down the line.
Growing Digital Population
Quite simply, the digital world is filling quickly with users that are slowly being hypnotised by their smartphones and tablets. The migration to online processes has created a convenience that millions around the world are succumbing to. Whether it is banking, ordering food, sending emails, or checking the weather, there are an increasing number of ways to perform these everyday tasks, which are fast becoming the norm and, in some cases, are the only way to perform a task.
As a result, more people are choosing or being driven into the digital world and with that, many of your customers too. Furthermore, by creating an online presence, even in the basic form of a website, you can potentially save on rental costs if your business previously required a physical base. Costs that can be applied in other departments.
Advances in Mobile App Technology
The ability to perform such a wide range of tasks on digital devices is primarily down to the advancements made in coding. Writing code that new-age technological devices can read to create applications is becoming a necessary skill in business. But while the idea of coding can be daunting, creating an app is not just for coding geniuses. In just a few steps, your business can be represented in a sophisticated, animated, user-friendly app form, which will give you much more exposure.
International Online Outreach
The shift to the digital would not only satisfy the growing number of inhabitants in this realm, but an online presence would also give you the potential to transcend boundaries and achieve global outreach. The nature of the World Wide Web facilitates the ability to access content from other countries, and with more emphasis placed on digital activity, there is even the potential to expand your business internationally should that be desired and possible.
While a local or domestic client base should always remain the initial target audience, employing the staff and creating a structure to suit a foreign market can remain in the back of the mind.
Example: Online Casinos
An example of an emerging industry that takes advantage of the ability to reach every corner of the planet is the online casino industry. Online casinos, like those at the Daily Star can be accessed and browsed by players from other countries that permit the activity. With online versions of casino classics such as blackjack and poker quickly growing in popularity, the potential to increase profit margins and infiltrate a new market is fast becoming a reality.
Faster Payment Methods
In line with the rapid advancements in software and tech, payment methods are also evolving quickly. The days of chip and pin payments are slowly being banished, replaced by contactless payments made by the same debit and credit cards and by smartphones and watches. With the increased ease in making payments, there is the potential for customers to spend more willingly due to the convenience and practicality of contactless payments.
In the online world, this convenience is replicated in the form of securely saved card information and digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. Nowadays, it is possible to make payments at the click of a few buttons, rather than entering every individual detail of a debit or credit card. With the ability to make payments quicker, more focus could also be applied to digital marketing to entice customers to buy from your business.
Investment for the Future
Creating an online presence might take some time and might involve learning new skills such as coding. Or there is option of employing professionals to lend a hand. Whichever path is chosen, the value of having an online presence has increased one thousand-fold in recent years. The value of the physical cannot be forgotten, but with the outreach, scalability, and practicality of online activity, having an online business can position you well for the present, and the future.