More and more physical stores – what might be termed ‘brick and mortar’ businesses – are turning to the online space to build their brand and customer base. This is the next logical step for many, but some are unsure of why this is a good idea. If you are one of these business owners who isn’t convinced that having an online business will be worth it, read on to find out why you should definitely start trading online. 

Photo by Monoar Rahman from Pexels

It’s Relatively Easy 

Gone are the days when setting up a website and online store was an arduous task that required a lot of time and effort, not to mention money. Today it is relatively easy to create a store like this and start earning additional money from the start.

You will need to do some research first, of course. You’ll need to work out a good domain name and look at hosting packages. You’ll need to have a theme and a good brand and be able to use that online. Look into costs too; there are ways to create a cheap website, but this is not always going to be a good idea if it looks cheap, so if you need a designer to help you, don’t be afraid of getting some costs and ideas. 

Better Company Image 

If a business doesn’t have a website these days, even if it is simply used to offer information rather than an extension of the business itself, then it could be viewed with suspicion. Those who might have been tempted to buy could be put off because you have no online presence, and they cannot research you thoroughly, unlike they can do with your competition. 

The more user-friendly your website is, and the more on-brand it can be, the more honest and trustworthy your business will seem. This can make all the difference when you are looking for new customers. 

Availability 

Most businesses can’t offer a genuine 24-hour service, but with a website, you can at least be ‘open’ no matter what hour of the day or night someone might want to browse or buy. This extra availability makes it much easier and more convenient for your customers to use you – they can buy what they need at any time, and if they don’t need to actually make contact with anyone to do so, that’s even easier. Think about it in terms of your CFD trading; wouldn’t you rather have access at all times than have to sit and wonder what was happening? 

If they do need to ask a question, having an email facility will mean they can ask it, even if you are unable to answer right away. Or you might want to invest in a chatbot system, offering answers to the most frequently asked questions. 

Work From Anywhere

Another reason for a website is that you can do business no matter where you happen to be. In most cases, these sales will happen in the background, and you will be alerted when an order comes through. If you want to increase your customer base and widen the area in which you are able to work, you will find that an online store is the best way to do this. You won’t have to open another physical store (which is expensive and time-consuming), but you’ll get the same effect.