If there is a sector that is particularly affected by the crisis that is currently hitting us, that is local or proximity commerce. The large stores and the lack of financing by the banks, despite the aid they receive, force merchants to look for new avenues and business channels that ensure their survival, and this is where the digital market (that unknown For the vast majority of small businesses) you can offer them a profitable alternative.
But it is not worth the “being for being”, it must be very clear that having a website does not mean having a new channel, it means tools and new possibilities to manage your business. Here I describe five keys to be able to open the market (and strengthen the existing one) within the digital world:
- Having a good E-commerce site: having a good E-commerce platform does not have to involve a significant investment. It is true that building an ad hoc platform, or using predefined tools such as Magento can take time and money, but there are currently alternatives such as the case of Mythos360, a fair trade social market where the merchant can have their own virtual store, without investment need and immediately. It is best to focus on platforms that streamline our work and centralize charging and administration in one place and at the same time provide us with several online sales channels instead of just one. Geolocation and mobile marketing: one of the main advantages of marketing Online is that of geolocation.Being able to attract a close customer will be one of the main opportunities for the merchant. Presence on Google Maps or Foursquare will make it easier for us to find a geographic search, but today consumers want simplicity, and they start their search directly through geolocated e-commerce applications such as Mythos360's. Loyalty to your client: the virtual world It is like the physicist, we must know how to communicate with our clients, we must know them, we must dialogue with them. From having a good newsletter to the active presence on social networks will help keep your client informed and in communication. Again, my advice is to centralize everything from the same platform, if possible even the same one from which we manage our business. Offer exclusive offers for your online customers:Make your buyer feel important. Offering specific discounts, coupons, products or services to consumers online will make them feel really close to you. Give visibility to your business on the internet: a small Google Adwords campaign can give us great visibility, as long as we have a good offer and we know how to communicate it. There are ways to get free advertising thanks to some platforms.
Those small merchants who integrate into the digital world before, will discover a whole new world of possibilities with little competition at the local level, and of course, you will benefit from the profitability of the quintessential half king. Do not waste time.
