Moving your business online is a big step forward in increasing your market audience and also in increasing your business revenue. Companies with an online platform can expect their businesses to increase from 15-50%. (source). It is a huge source of revenue that cannot be underestimated.
The recent Covid crisis has proven that no one knows what is going to happen in a business where going online may be the only way to survive.
Legalities
You need to keep an eye on the legalities of everything, you don’t want to accidentally be breaking the law. A business licence should cover most types of businesses moving online, however, if you are moving to work from your home, then you may need a Home Occupation Permit.
You may need a DBA (Doing Business As) License if you are going to operate under a different name than your original business. You will need to register for an EIN (employee identification number) so that you can be taxed on your transactions and display a Data Privacy policy. (source).
Setting up your Website
The first thing you need to do is purchase a Domain Name. it is what you are known as on the internet. There are several platforms on which you can do this on and most will offer alternate names similar to the one you wanted if that one happens to have already been purchased. Then, you need to set up your website. If it is an e-commerce, you may have to pay for that. You can set it up yourself, or you can hire a web design company, such as Universal Web
Design to set it up for you. It can be a lengthy process of choosing the style, how many pages you will use, linking in social media, etc. the list goes on, but it can be well worth it. You need your website to be informative with clear pages marked for your products.
It is a good idea for you to use your website, not only to sell your product but also your brand. Use the website to tell the world about your business and not just your product. You also need to decide what products can reasonably be sold online and what you should leave as an in-store only purchase.
You can even make some products solely online exclusive to improve sales if you wish. You also need to set up your payment options. Most websites come with the option to integrate multiple payment options gateways.
You should also announce your move on every platform you have used to promote your business in the past, plus some new ones. Use your social media, email, search engines and anything else to notify your customers of the change, even leave a message on your business voicemail.
Finally, if you are happy with your website, then post it and make sure you know how to get your products to your customers before you do. (source).
The move online can be frustrating and complex. You can set it up yourself or get some help through a web design agency such as us at Universal Web Design. It can be a lot to get through but the result can mean the survival of your business. To find out how we can help you and your business, visit our website on https://universalwebdesign.co.uk/, email us on sales@universalwebdesign.co.uk or give a call on 01206 588000.