#1 – Big companies are stealing your business
Almost all, 91%, of large Canadian companies have a website, and of all companies in Canada who have the ability to sell online, almost 25% of their sales are made via the web. Yet more than half of all Canadian companies don’t even have a website, let alone a good one.
Data from Statistics Canada shows that Canadian business Internet sales grew by $122 billion from 2012 to 2013, and that companies with 100 or more employees accounted for ALL of that growth and for 64% of the total $136 billion in online sales.
What that means is that big business is riding the wave to more sales and more profit, and small business owners are losing out on big opportunities.
#2 – Almost everyone shops online, and now they are buying almost everything online
Online sales continue to grow in volume and expand into new markets. Let’s look at two seemingly unlikely areas.
Car buyers have been comparison shopping online for years, but there is now a groundswell of auto buyers actually making their purchases online and having the vehicle delivered to their door. In just one example, a recent article by Adel Murad reported that Volvo did an experiment offering a limited edition of its new XC90 model for online buyers only. They sold out in less than two days. According to Murad, Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz are also testing online sales and the others are likely not far behind.
The professional service sector has also made a big leap into the virtual world. Equinoxe LifeCare now has an online medical clinic in BC. You can show the doctor where it hurts by connecting to a video chat similar to Facetime or Skype.
And even if you provide a service that has to done in the real world, like house cleaning or an oil change, using the Internet to advertise and schedule appointments is going to boost your sales.
#3 – A good website is good business
The Internet is the number one go-to directory for everything from accountants to zip lines. If you don’t have a website, you simple do not exist in the minds of most Canadians. That said, a bad website isn’t going to help, and honestly, the cost difference between a bad website and a good one has decreased significantly so you can’t really argue anymore with the cost/benefit ratio.
A good website can be pretty basic. Answer the questions potential customers have about who you are, what you sell, why they should buy from you, and how to make a purchase. An experienced web development firm will take care of the rest – building a site that has a professional appearance and generates trust.
So, no more excuses. Check the stats for yourself, and you’ll quickly realize that a good website is just good business; and if you want to ratchet up the sales even higher, come and talk to us about how you can use the web to sell, sell, sell!