COVID-19 has turned the entire world upside down – especially the business sector. The dangers of in-person contact have forced many businesses to go digital in order to protect their staff and continue serving customers. Even with businesses reopening around the world, the importance of a digital presence and the adaptability to move operations online has never been more important.
Why Your Local Business Needs an Online Presence
Pandemic or everyday life, an online presence is important to local businesses of all sizes and all industries. The internet makes it easy to be found in local searches if you are established with local search engine optimization (SEO), which is reason enough to invest in a website.
However, when your customers can no longer come into your store or dine at your restaurant for safety reasons, the need is even greater. Millions of businesses around the United States were left without a plan when lockdown began, with businesses losing money trying to stay open and some closing entirely, forcing employees to miss out on their paychecks.
For businesses that had an existing web presence, such as restaurants with a website or who were on food delivery apps, or retail stores offering curbside pickup, it was much less difficult. People still needed to buy food, groceries, and household items, so any business with a website could still take orders without requiring customers to come in. This allowed them to work with a smaller staff and implement safety procedures to keep everyone safe while staying open.
Without a web presence or eCommerce website, there is no effective way that many of these businesses would have been able to process sales, which would have forced them to close as well. Even business-to-business (B2B) companies needed to use websites to effectively schedule meetings, provide information, and more when they were unable to conduct in-person meetings.
Don’t Be Caught Unprepared – Build Your Web Presence Today
It never hurts to have a contingency plan. In the case that your standard operations are interrupted by an emergency situation, you can be ready to stay open with the help of a website that addresses your business’s needs.
The SEOpologist offers effective web design services that can get you online, quickly and affordably. In addition to offering a contingency for your business in times of uncertainty, a great website can improve your market visibility (online and offline), improve search rankings, and increase sales from alternative sources than foot traffic.
