Whatever business you’re in, being online can add immense value to your business.
Being online means that your business is open 24/7. People can find you and find information about your products and services at any time that suits them.
Imagine you run a bakery that makes celebration cakes to order. If your business is not online, you are only relying on people who know where your shop is to come in and place an order.
If you have an online presence, thousands of prospective clients can find you when they are thinking of ordering a celebration cake, and place an order online even when your shop is closed.
Social media or Website
Getting your business online does not necessarily mean that you need a website, though having a website is great.
If you’re feeling a bit daunted by all that needs to be done, you can start with a social media presence and add on your website at a later date.
Whatever path you choose, register your domain now. That means you can lock down your unique domain name before somebody else takes it. See Tips to choose a domain name. And most importantly you can set up your professional email.
Register a domain
The first step to getting your business online is to register a domain. Even if you’re not going to build a website, having your domain name means that you can have a professional email yourname@companyname.com
For a great first impression, a professional email is a must. Free email (yahoo, gmail, etc) for business suggests that you don’t take your business seriously.
To register your domain name, you need a domain registrar. There are hundreds or maybe even thousands to choose from but I use Godaddy and have found them to be easy to use over the last 10 years. See Tips to choose a domain name.
Steps to register your domain on Godaddy
Go to the Godaddy website: https://www.godaddy.com/
Type in the domain name you want
If the domain name is available, click on Add to Cart
You may have to try several options before you find a name that you want. See Tips to choose a domain name.
Select Checkout and pay for your domain
Other registrars will follow pretty much the same process. Once your domain is registered, you’re ready to set up your email.
List your business on google
It’s important that your business can be found online. You’re losing out on potential customers who are searching for products/services like yours online if your business is not listed.
Listing your business on google allows potential customers to find you when they are searching for businesses like yours. You don’t need a website to list your business on Google.
Customers can see your opening hours, contact information and you can take them on a virtual tour of your business.