I know it is 2011, but I still talk to retailers that do not have a website. It's hard to imagine doing business in today's tough economy without having some sort of valuable online presence. Yet, there are stores that still do not have any sort of web presence.
Are you still not taking advantage of your store's BIGGEST sales tool, a website??? Here are a few compelling reasons to have an online presence.
Effective Sales
A website is the single most effective tool for creating sales for your store. In addition to expanding your in-store traffic through people finding you online, if you have the proper content on your website, you can also sell your customer on a product without the customer even entering your store!
Level The Playing Field
It is a great way to level the playing field with the many giant chains that exists in the natural products industry. It doesn't matter how small your store is, you can be listed next to those big chains on Google/Bing/Yahoo and have the same opportunity to gain a prospective buyer's business. (The quality of your website will have an effect on whether you actually gain their business, more about that another time)
Build Trust
Offering your customers an email newsletter is a great way to build trust in your brand. Your customers are already looking to you for advice on what products to buy, but you can't be with them 24/7! By sending out a monthly newsletter with valuable health information and content that your customer will share with their friends and family, you will increase the trust your customers have in you and increase your sales.
Expand Your Reach
One of the best ways to reach new customers is through search engines. However, if you don't have a website, search engines won't know you exist! If you are listed properly on Google, people can not only find you on the desktop and laptops, but also on their mobile devices. When my daughter started cheerleading classes in an area of town we were not familiar with, I pulled out my phone and search for a coffee shop to hang out in while she was at her class. It's that easy, and people WILL search for your business. The question is, will they find you, or your competition?
Test Your Message
You can use your website to test coupons, specials and your overall message. You can monitor your websites traffic and see what content your customers frequent the most. If, for example, they like the recipes section, perhaps you can hold a monthly cooking class, or drop a recipein your customer's bag as they are checking out. If they spend a lot of time researching health information, perhaps install an in-store kiosk that will allow you to be nearby to recommend products to your customers.
These are just a few of the great benefits you will receive when you have a website. If you still haven't taken the leap, give me a call and I would be happy to discuss a strategy with you.
