It’s crucial to remember the importance of being present on the Internet today, especially at a time when a huge number of global firms (small and medium-sized businesses) are still struggling to begin their digital transformation and make excellent use of the digital world.
Digital presence, through a web app, is a valuable business asset for expanding a company’s reach and diversifying its revenue streams. Digital presence has become critical in many ways, not just as a source of innovation.
Sadly, many business leaders did not see digital transformation as a strategic priority for their companies. And although the reasons cited are usually a lack of time, training, skills and financial means, it is important for business managers to understand the stakes of digital presence and the urgency of calling on professional agencies to help them through digital transformation services.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the main advantages of having a digital presence.
1 Increased Competitiveness
This should be a strong motivation: your competitors are present online! At a time of strong competition in both global and local markets, even if you have your loyal customer base right now, the business world is fickle and things might change soon.
Having a digital presence through a web app is like having another storefront but on the web. It increases your reach, helps you generate leads, and allows you to get in touch with your clients quicker. The Internet has celebrated its 20th anniversary, it is high time for companies to fill their digital void. Your digital presence can be a lever and a tool to develop and sustain the company.
2 Increased Revenue
According to Google, only 4 out of 10 companies are present on the Internet, about 45% of small and medium-sized businesses do not even have a website, which is a considerable percentage.
This is a striking number if we compare it to the number of internet users in the Western world, which surpasses 80% in almost all OECD countries (which include the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union countries, Turkey, and more).
And internet penetration is only projected to grow further, with countries like India, Ethiopia, and Kenya slowly coming online as well. And all of this is compounded by the behavior of users when they use the Internet. For example, studies show that 88% of consumers search for a business on mobile call or go to the store within 24 hours. Your competitors are on the internet, your future customers too, so why not your business?
3 Increased Reach
The Internet offers an incredible source of potential prospects and customers. Thanks to the world wide web, the company can be visible to everyone using different levers and channels.
Whether it is with a local, national or international audience, visibility on the Internet allows the company to have a bigger reach and therefore to increase its conversion.
Internet users search for online reviews, compare prices and stores and read content offered by brands. Online shopping is growing and it would be a blow to your company not to take advantage of this opportunity.
4 Make Your Services Available 24/7
According to a study looking at customer behavior, 86% of customers want to see information about the services and products sold. 82% of consumers prefer to learn about a company organically from the website itself than from advertisements on TV and in newspapers.
It is necessary for companies to understand these figures and the importance of a digital presence to promote their services and products. It absolutely represents an investment
It would be devastating to deprive your company of the opportunity to present its products and services online. Unlike a physical store, products and services are available at any time on the web, and the client can read about them and order them anytime he/she wants. This represents a major advantage.
5 Improve Customer Service
The benefits of an online presence are considerable and many companies have already reoriented their customer service strategy to a primarily online one, using chatbots or online messaging. These tools allow your company to improve its relationship with its customers through better customer service. This offers a considerable asset for companies and brands fully utilizing this. The Internet is a really powerful medium that can be used to create an enriched customer experience.
Digital presence offers you the possibility to engage in instant discussions with your community. You can get immediate feedback from dissatisfied customers and act on it by listening to them and reacting immediately to their requests. Being present on the internet or social media transforms your company’s customer service.
As customers are getting more informed and used to the Internet, they’re becoming more demanding and consequently asking for state-of-the-art customer service. Let’s not forget that online or offline, customer service is an essential service for the healthy development of the company. Developing a real online customer service policy allows you to improve your brand image!