Business online in 2021 – where is it going? That's a great question. For the last 2 years, the world has been under restrictions of one kind or another.
From the wearing of masks to lockdowns and curfews, these measures implemented by governments around the world have caused thousands of businesses to close their doors permanently.
Many of the businesses that have survived so far, have lost a lot of money and the future is still uncertain. So, the big question is – what is the way forward? How do we survive and grow our businesses in 2021?
If you are a traditional business, one way to reach a wider customer base is to take your business online. In fact, taking your business online in 2021 is a great idea because after 2 years of lockdowns, lost jobs and low incomes, millions of people have shifted their thinking and their money online.
The job market is another indicator of the shift online as covered in another of our articles, THE MOST IN-DEMAND JOB SKILLS IN SOUTH AFRICA.
Growing Your Business Online in 2021
More people than ever before are ready to shop and do business online!
Existing online businesses have also been impacted by the events of the ;ast 2 years to some degree, but a greater number have managed to survive and recently, several online businesses have seen increased growth.
At the moment, it is difficult to get all of the facts and statistics, but overall, the signs are that online businesses are growing and thriving.
If you have a traditional business, now is the time to seriously consider taking your business online. One of the easiest ways, is to start on social media with a Facebook Page and a Twitter account. You can also consider the other social media platforms like LinkedIn.
The best way to expand online however, is to get your own website. There are two main types of business website to consider, a “normal” website with 5 pages including a home page, about page and a contact page, and an e-commerce website where you can literally tale orders and receive payments by credit card (or instant EFT).
A Real World Example
One of the best examples of a traditional, off-line business going online here in South Africa, is Checkers. They introduced a 60 minute delivery service whereby customers can download their app, select products and pay for them (also in the app) and have goods delivered to their door within 60 minutes.
How Do I Get Started?
This is the questions on the lips of a lot of small (and not so small) business owners, and it's a good one. Although it may seem overwhelming at first, getting your business online is possible without too much difficulty.
The first step is to register a domain name that is relevant to your business, brand or products. Next, build your website and make sure it is easy to navigate and find information. Customers don't like to struggle to get information.
You'll need to decide whether you will just have a few pages with basic information (this is know as a ‘brochure' site and is not recommended), a full e-commerce shop or something in between.
To get your website online, you'll need a reliable company to build it for you, and finally you need a good hosting package.
Conclusion
The last few years have presented businesses with many challenges, but the shift online also provides many opportunities. A lot of South African's love a challenge and are inventive too.
Taking an existing business online in 2021, or launching a new online-only business is probably the best thing you can do for your business right now. Now is definitely the time – take your business online in 2021!