Whether you’re a veteran owner of a moustache comb marketplace, or you’ve just opened a capybara-themed high street coffee shop – it’s time to get that physical store online.
Because in today’s digital age, having an online presence isn’t just a “nice-to-have” – it’s a necessity. So, here’s how you can transform your brick-and-mortar shop into a thriving online business in just a few simple steps.
“Do I really need an online presence?”
There’s always one, isn’t there? The short answer is – yes! The benefits of being online are tenfold, but we’ll just mention a few – from increasing your visibility and boosting your credibility with customers, to opening up ecommerce possibilities. So, here’s how you can get started…
Do some research
Before diving headfirst into creating your website, you need to understand what your customers actually want to know. Consider what information is most valuable to them – like store opening times, menu or product lists, reservation forms, and team updates. This way, you can make sure your site adds real value.
Don't know where to start? Check out your competitors. Identify what they’re doing well and what they’re missing. This will equip you with useful insights into how you can do it better and stand out in a crowded market.
Choose the right domain
Depending on your target market, decide whether .com, .store, or .co.uk works best – .com is globally recognisable, .co.uk marks you as a UK-based business, while .store emphasises your ecommerce capabilities.
But whichever route you take, your domain name should be easy to remember and closely related to the name of your business. For example, if you run a local speciality pet shop called “Gary’s Geckos,” you’ll probably want to secure garysgeckos.com ASAP.
Stuck for ideas? Turn to Pip – our handy domain search engine helps you find names related to your venture with creativity and ease.
Choose a reliable hosting provider
But something that remains a constant is the need for high performance and scalability. Here at Fasthosts, for example, we offer a range of hosting products – including Web, VPS, Windows Web, and Reseller Hosting. So whatever your website function, we can guarantee it runs smoothly and efficiently.
Say yes to a CMS
A content management system (CMS) simplifies the process of building and managing your website. If you’re a coding whizz, you might consider Joomla or Drupal. However, WordPress is highly recommended for all skill levels due to its user-friendly interface, endless customisation, and helpful support community.
Get creative with design and copy
You don’t need to be Picasso or Shakespeare to create an attractive and engaging site. If you’ve chosen WordPress, there are plenty of dynamic themes to choose from that can be applied straight away.
Just remember to keep the design consistent with your physical branding, and emphasise readability, navigation, and accessibility above all else. If you’re in need of design inspiration, check out our Pinterest page.
Plug in some plugins
These tools enhance the functionality of your WordPress site – and they’re often free! For example, if you’re launching an ecommerce site, WooCommerce is a must-have in order to manage your online store with ease. Discover a range of useful plugins– from SEO tools and contact forms, to social media integrations.
Promote your presence
Congratulations! Your beautiful website is up and running – now it’s time to get some customers on your site. Leverage your physical presence to promote your website – maybe you could offer an in-store discount if customers find a code on your site, or run a promotion where customers can refer a friend with a specific link. And be sure to manage all your marketing efforts through our handy Online Marketing Suite.
“I need a cool, expert host to help me…”
You’re making us blush! Of course we’ll be there to support every step of the way when you choose Fasthosts as your hosting provider. We offer 24/7 support, an expert team, and super-fast speeds to ensure your website is always running smoothly.
Get in touch with us today, and let us help you build a powerful online presence.
