2020 has been a year like no other!

We’ve all been forced to make changes in our lives, including how we shop. Online purchasing was up 31% in 1st and 2nd quarter, and according to Kantar, a consulting company, 40% of consumers say they have “increased or significantly increased” their online shopping amid the pandemic.

So, what does this mean for small business owners?

As people become more conditioned to purchasing goods and services online, your business needs to show up there in a big way. Regardless of whether you have a retail store or offer a professional service, you need to have a strong online presence so that you can meet your customers where they are. And right now, that’s online.

Let me give you an example. My husband wants to buy me a piece of jewelry for our upcoming anniversary. He suggested I visit a friend’s jewelry store to see what they have, so before I drove all the way to the store, I thought I’d check out their website.

What I found was one of the worst websites I’ve seen in a long time! It was outdated and hard to navigate. It wasn’t a good customer experience, so I found another site that was easier to use and I was quickly able to find what I was looking for.

In 2021, that’s how people are going to shop. And again…not just for retail but for professional services too. We’ve become conditioned to buying online because we want the quick convenience of the internet.

If you want your business to be successful next year, make sure your website looks good, is easy to use and is up to date. If you need help with this, contact the experts at Brand Accelerator at 412-828-8822 or email me at mhuwar@thebrandaccelerator.com

About the Author: Meg Huwar is a small business marketing expert and Principal of Brand Accelerator. She and her team work with companies who want to market their business but don’t have the time, experience or staff to do it themselves. Meg can be reached at mhuwar@thebrandaccelerator.com or 412-848-8822.