The internet has played an increasingly large role in commerce over the past 20 years, with the COVID-19 pandemic seeing a massive spike in the number of businesses ensuring they have an online presence.
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Why is e-commerce booming?
A rapid rise in rent prices has gradually been driving businesses toward an online-only mode of operation for years; however, 2020 was the year that really saw the online world become crucial for all businesses, with the COVID-19 pandemic speeding up this process. With repeated lockdowns still occurring in various parts of the world, businesses are no longer necessarily able to make profits by relying on supplying their wares in shops.
Which businesses have gone online?
Huge online companies such as Amazon and Alibaba are well known, but they are not the only businesses that have become more reliant on their online presence to make sales. Small and medium-sized businesses have found themselves having to focus on their online presences more than ever before since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. An international survey by the National Academy of Sciences surveyed 5,800 small and medium-sized enterprises and found that 58 per cent had had to shut their premises temporarily or permanently due to the pandemic.
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How can businesses make the most of their online presence?
The first key part of a business’s online presence is having a well-built and appealing website. Your website should accurately represent your brand and the services and/or products you provide. A good starting point is to buy domain name(s) for your business, with choosing your brand’s name as your domain name a good idea. You can check whether your domain is available by checking the official UK domain name registry Nominet.
If the name you want is available, you should register it as quickly as possible. You can buy a domain at names.co.uk or from another specialist, which will make sure you hold the copyright over the domain name. This means you won’t be at risk of being targeted by cybersquatters or other cybercriminals.
The other key part of a business’s online presence is the use of social media; for example, if you make products that can be easily photographed or offer trips to specific specialist locations, Instagram could be a great tool to use to promote your business.
