Embracing the Digital Transformation
January 25, 2021
In today’s rapidly changing business environment, it’s vital for small business owners to keep up to speed with the latest ways consumers are finding and buying from businesses. Maintaining a technology focused mindset throughout all business decisions is crucial to remaining competitive. The numbers speak for themselves. 50% of small businesses close within 5 years of opening. A small business owner cannot afford to waste valuable time, money, and resources on conducting outdated business practices which just do not work anymore.
No longer does handing out print flyers or running newspaper ads attract swarms of customers on opening day. It’s clear that businesses which do not embrace digital ways of doing business will not remain successful in the long run.
So what exactly does it mean to embrace the digital transformation? How can a business owner position their company to take advantage of the latest consumer trends? Simply put, the Digital Transformation refers to the trend of businesses using new, fast, and frequently changing technologies to solve problems. For small businesses, the way technology is used will obviously differ when compared to large corporations. A small business may not be mature enough to leverage AI or machine learning, or maybe these technologies are just not relevant to the services being provided. However, all small businesses can definitely begin embracing the digital transformation by taking the initial fundamental steps towards digitalization.
We at Chrono Group believe there are two fundamental steps all small businesses can and should undertake to begin to embrace the change and remain competitive in today’s market.
- Create and maintain a well designed website
Simply put, there is no such thing as window shopping anymore. Shoppers aren’t strolling down main street deciding what businesses they want to spend their hard earned money at based off window displays or fancy signs. Instead, they use google and online platforms to pinpoint their interests and navigate to online reviews or the business’s own website before deciding whether or not they will make the trip there.
If your business does not have an online website promoting its products, that’s simply lost opportunities! Having a brick and mortar location just doesn’t cut it anymore. You need to be as well represented online as you do in person. A website is an absolute must so customers can identify who you are and what you’re all about before deciding if they want to spend money with you. However, having a bad website is probably worse than no website at all. No website will lead you to lose potential sales and customers, but a bad website will just make your business look unprofessional and unpleasant to all who come across it.
It is critical for your company’s online presence to be updated, well maintained, accurate and aesthetic. Broken websites with outdated information must be avoided at all costs!
- Utilize the full powers of social media and targeted advertisements
Just as consumers are visiting websites before deciding to come to your shop, they’re also using social media to learn about new products and services. With the boom in social networking over the last decade, there’s no doubt your potential customers are using major social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram on a daily basis. Utilizing these platforms to reach and engage with customers is a highly effective way to build a strong, recognizable brand for your company.
The real power of social media however falls under its targeting capabilities. You can create highly effective ads which are specifically designed to reach profiles which are the most likely to be interested in your product or service. Why waste time and money on print advertisements which end up in the trash when you can be targeting your specific audience with highly effective promotions?
Chrono Group specializes in creating highly visible and aesthetic websites, and designing digital social media targeted advertising campaigns! We can help your small business embrace the digital transformation to reach consumers like never before.
Reach out for a free consultation!