When you think of global business expansion, what comes to your mind are huge loans, costly re-branding, and time-consuming business plans. That is not necessarily the case. As a small business enterprise, you can expand your market reach by tapping the power of online marketing, albeit during the pandemic.
The way we use the internet has progressively evolved over the years. Not only is the web an avenue for work, but we also rely significantly on digital technology to monitor our finances, study, and even do our grocery and shopping.
Being stuck at home and with no establishments open, since the outbreak of COVID-19, all the more that people are spending most of their time online.
With supply chain disruption and unceasing demands of global consumers, you should grab this opportunity to maximize the power of the internet to boost your sales and market reach.
It does not have to be expensive to expand your online business. If you want to know how to globally boost brand awareness despite the pandemic, here are some pointers:
Improving Your Website
One of the most effective tools to globally expand your eCommerce business is to have a good web design that is not only visually appealing but also maximizes the user experience.
According to research, the majority of internet users base their assessment of business credibility solely on how a website looks.
Strategically use design and multimedia elements in your website for maximum impact to your customers and potential ones. Not only will your website look sleek, but it also gives a quicker load speed.
Furthermore, make sure that your website is mobile-friendly. Over the past years, more mobile searches are done using mobile phones than laptops or desktop computers.
Publishing Unique, Creative, and Relevant Content
Similarly, critical to your website design is your content. As often repeated, content is king. Having compelling content boosts search engine results and increases traffic to your page. More importantly, it makes your company appear as a leading business in the industry.
There is no perfect formula for coming up with unique, creative, and high-quality content. However, common expert suggestions include optimization, creating strong headlines, and writing relevant materials.
The question now is: How do I make money off my content? The answer to that is call-to-action phrases. In your blog posts, do not just write relevant content, but inspire your readers to use the products you are selling — insert links of your product landing site.
Being Proactive on Social Media
Recent statistics show that there are 3.96 billion active social media users all over the world. With the onslaught of the pandemic and stay-at-home regulations, the majority is all the more reliant on social media for entertainment and news updates.
If you want to improve the visibility of your business and reach new global customers, social media can be a highly effective way to do so. Post relevant and engaging content regularly to engage your audience. In addition to that, respond to comments and direct messages.
More than being visible, you offer accessibility. By being accessible, you develop credibility and trust.
Listing Your Business on Key Directory Sites
Despite being overshadowed by SEO, online business directories are still relevant and useful in ranking your website and increasing online visibility. Multiple listings on different directories such as Yelp, Mapquest, Facebook, and CitySearch aid Google rank your business website.
Apart from citation campaigns, having a virtual number also helps your business accessibility even in the global market. Whenever potential customers look you up on online business directories, it gives them the impression that your business has a credible reputation.
Going Glocal
Perhaps the most crucial strategy in improving global presence in business is to have a local mentality of each potential market. Think local while going international with your business. The best example is McDonald’s with their Spam Eggs and Rice in Hawaii and seaweed Shaker Fries in Singapore.
Glocalization combines the words globalization and localization to characterize a product that, although developed and distributed globally, could adjust to cater to the consumers at the local level.
Mainly, companies put a cultural touch on their products to attract the local market. You can start this by finding a local partner to help you understand the local audience.
As said, expanding your online business on a global scale does not have to be expensive. You have to utilize and maximize the available digital solutions.