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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nPurchase a Domain & Hosting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The first stage of getting online is relatively simple, especially if you already have an established offline presence. Find a domain using your name – for example, if you\u2019re a small business selling children\u2019s clothing called Fig & Ivy, you might choose figandivyclothing.co.uk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019ll need to purchase this domain along with web hosting – this is a service that we can offer you here at Bronco, as we are a partner with Nominet and provide hosting onsite, or it can be done via sites such as 123 Reg, Crazy Domains or Fast Hosts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Web Design & Ecommerce<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you want a very simple website that doesn\u2019t have a complex structure and can simply be used to display your business information, how people can get in touch and allow people to sign up for more information, WIX or Ionos Page Builder are great for first timers. If you\u2019ve had some online experience before, we\u2019d recommend using WordPress or Magento.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To get set up to sell products online, which should be a priority for small businesses who only have a physical store and stock they want to get moving for Christmas, Shopify and BigCommerce are the best options for your own site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You don\u2019t necessarily need your own website to sell products online – the below options are quick fixes to get your products online more quickly, while your website is getting set up. These online marketplaces already have the tools in place so you can start selling immediately, although it\u2019s worth exploring which ones are best for your specific product range:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Amazon<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- eBay<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Etsy<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Facebook Shopping<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Instagram Shopping<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
If you find you\u2019re struggling to get your web design set up or can\u2019t get your head around ecommerce, our Bronco web designers<\/a> are highly skilled at every aspect of web development, from a single page site<\/a> to a more complex design<\/a> – we\u2019ve done it all! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Promotion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Simply having a website or your products online won\u2019t bring the customers in; you need to get in front of people\u2019s eyes by promoting your small business, and there are several ways to do this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Social Media<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Establishing a presence on social media<\/a> is absolutely crucial. Facebook and Instagram are particularly important for small businesses, allowing you to get your products in front of people\u2019s eyes for free and engaging with potential customers. People are far more likely to trust a business if they see that they are active on social media, showing themselves as a trustworthy and \u201creal\u201d company, particularly if you encourage your followers to leave good reviews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We would recommend setting up your profiles on social media as quickly as possible if you haven\u2019t already and to start posting consistently – at minimum 2-3 times per week on each platform. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paid Shopping<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is often known as PPC or paid search<\/a> and includes Google Ads and Social Ads, depending on where you want to promote your business. Paid ads can be used to drive very specific traffic to your site using a number methods, from those sponsored listings you see at the top of Google searches, to ads that appear as you\u2019re browsing your favourite news sites, and to those videos that pop up on your Facebook newsfeed. They can be highly targeted, allowing you to reach customers who have specific interests, who have bought from you before, interacted with your content elsewhere, or even those who are similar to people who have bought from you previously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paid shopping is relatively inexpensive to set up compared to a full scale SEO campaign (below), meaning it\u2019s perfect if you have a low marketing budget, is far easier to scale up over time, and has much more instant results. Just be careful when using Google Ads that you keep an eye on your budget and conversions as Google will spend as much as it can, so you need to make sure you\u2019re still in profit when you get a conversion. Once you get the formula right you can add more budget, but it’s best to start off small and keep in control. We offer full campaign set ups and management, as well as advice on how best to get Paid Ads campaigns off the ground. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just think of how your physical shop wouldn\u2019t get a single customer if it was set up on a country lane; you need to allow people to find you in search engines. If you\u2019re searching for a specific product, far more people click and buy through the top listing that appears over any other. SEO is the process of getting your business to appear at the top of the listings in search engines using the following (and more) activities:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Proper use of keywords in title tags, meta descriptions and on page content.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Building relevant links into your site to demonstrate your trustworthiness to Google.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Giving your users a good on page experience, including site speed and good content.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Though SEO is a slow burner and takes time to pay off, the results are huge in the long run and far more consistent and effective than any other type of promotion. An SEO campaign<\/a> may be something to consider once you have established your online presence to encourage conversions to continue once the focus is off this difficult time, but the sooner a campaign is underway the sooner the organic rankings can start to improve. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Quick Wins: Google My Business<\/h2>\n\n\n\n