How to get your shop online in just one weekend

As a small business owner, your daily schedule is most likely non-stop. From stock taking, customer service, and shop maintenance - to name a few - it’s understandable that you haven’t got round to getting your business online. But in this day and age, having an online presence is crucial for success. Even if your products or services aren’t available online, people are still looking for the goods you are offering. Everyday, customers are searching the web, finding your competitors' websites and probably choosing them over you. With one in four purchases now being made online, and 85 percent of potential customers using the Internet to research local businesses first, it really is time to get your business online. Like most things, taking the process one step at a time will make it more manageable - and in this article, we will show you how to create an online presence in just one weekend! SATURDAY Social Media Takeover Social media is huge right now, I mean seriously huge - and it’s growing at a rapid pace! With over 1 billion people using Facebook alone, it’s safe to say that it houses potential customers for your business. With a business Facebook page, you can interact with prospects and customers in a way that they’re already familiar with. People share their likes, interests and activities on Facebook, and with your business page, you can share news, photos and videos, too. People often visit a business’s Facebook page to find out more information, including opening times, reviews, promotions and more. Creating your Facebook page is made simple with Facebook’s easy-to-follow instructions. Once you’ve created your page, add your logo and begin posting to generate engagement. Add your business to Google If you really want to reach your customers online, you’ve got to have a presence on Google. Getting your website to the top of Google can be a painstaking process, but there is another solution, especially if you have a store or premises. Google My Business (GMB) is a free listing from Google that showcases local businesses and provides instant information - from location, to how busy your store is at certain times. To do this, you will need to complete Google’s application form. Simply search “Google My Business” to get started. They will then send you verification through the post and you are good to go! SUNDAY Get Your Website Ok, before you run a mile and think “this section is going to be too complicated for me” - it’s not! Don’t let the fictional barriers stand in your way – it is easier than you think to create a website, and doesn’t have to cost a small fortune! A website doesn’t need to be expensive! You can register your domain name (www.domainname.com) for as little as 99p now and you can purchase one in literally minutes with a reputable company like GoDaddy or 123Reg. Design and development costs, however, can vary a great deal. Design agencies can charge from £1,000-£10,000 for a customised website. At Convertaroo, we are creating a simple website service, allowing you to fill out a form, telling us about your business and then we do the rest for just £25 a month. This service is especially for small independent businesses, giving you a simple solution to getting a website, without worrying about cost or development. To learn more about this, visit: convertaroo.com/websites FINAL TIPS Once you’ve began creating an online presence, keep on top of it. Keep active on social media, posting frequently to keep your customers and potential customers engaging with you. Being online is great, but if your content is dated, then it can decrease engagement. Also, don’t just stop at social media and a website. Start creating blog content to help boost your Google ranking, and look at sending newsletters to your database. The more quality content you have, the more quality leads it will bring. So, no more excuses and pushing it off. Spend an upcoming weekend creating the above and your business will begin to grow online! Struggling to get your business online? Convertaroo is an online community, making digital marketing easy for small businesses, startups and entrepreneurs like you! With our ever-growing library of courses, templates and resources - all tested and proven - you can start generating new leads within minutes! Get seven days free access on today: www.convertaroo.com