All businesses, no matter the industry or niche, face a high amount of competition. In order for your business to stay relevant, you have to keep up with the ever-changing times, to include consumer expectations and technology. If your business is stuck in the dark ages, you can all but ensure that you’re losing customers and not making new leads.
Being stuck in the dark ages doesn’t only impact customers, it also impacts your company internally. Productivity, morale, and accountability all decrease when a business is behind in the times.
Here are 4 signs that your business needs to adapt to the times and what you need to change to bring your company into the 21st century.
1. You Don’t Have an Online Presence
Without an online presence, you’re missing out on hundreds, possibly thousands of leads. These days consumers do a majority of their shopping and company research using the Internet. So, if someone were to search for the service that your company offers, without a solid online presence, consumers will never know that your business exists.
Having an online presence is a must if you want to stay ahead of your competitors. An online presence starts with a website that is usable, responsive, and one that offers a top notch experience.
The key to a useful website is one that is mobile friendly. As of January 2018 there were 3.7 billion unique mobile users, and this number will grow exponentially in the future. A mobile-friendly website is a must if you want to target today’s modern audience.
Aside from a website, your company also needs to have social media accounts. This includes Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other of the commonly used networks. Since there are billions of daily social media users, your business needs to not only be present, but active on social media. This involves making posts, sharing new content, and interacting with followers.
2. No Online Services
In the past a business either had a brick and mortar location or ran an online store. But, thanks to the Internet and other awesome technology, companies can now have their cake and eat it too. If you run a brick and mortar store, it’s crucial that you not only have an online presence, but that you offer some sort of online service.
One of the easiest ways to achieve this goal is to have an online store. No matter if you sell a product or offer a service, an online store is a convenient way for consumers to try out your company.
You can take things further with an online offering. For example, a brick and mortar pharmacy could keep running its physical location while also serving as an online prescription delivery company. Companies like Medly Pharmacy offer an online service that allows customers to fill their prescriptions online and have them delivered the same day. This customer-centric business model is convenient and wisely targeted towards a large audience.
3. Your Communication Lines Are Limited
In the past, phone conversations were the go-to method of communication. But these days, customers are looking for a much more convenient option. Picking up the phone requires concentration and a break from other daily tasks. Relying on phone-based conversation is a huge turn off for people who are expecting top notch customer service and interaction.
While there’s nothing wrong with offering phone-based communication, it shouldn’t be the only option available to customers. To stay competitive and to meet consumer needs, you’ll want to offer other communication methods including:
- Live chat
- SMS
- Direct message on social media
By offering a wide range of communication lines, you show customers that you are available for any of their questions or concerns.
4. You Don’t Accept Mobile Payment
While cash and credit/debit cards are still widely used, they aren’t as convenient as being able to swipe your phone at the cash register or the ability to pay the latest and greatest form of payment is NFC mobile payments.
This technology allows customers to pay using Samsung Pay, Android Pay, and Apple Pay. To accept this form of payment, you’ll need to update your point of sale devices so that they’re compatible with this form of payment.
NFC mobile payments are beneficial in that they’re much faster than cash or paying with a card. This added convenience gets customers in and out quickly, without the frustrating of fumbling with money or having to swipe or use a chip card.
Conclusion
Being behind in the times is a big drawback for your company. In order to beat out your competition and to attract the leads you need to be successful, it’s important to stay well ahead of the technology and customer expectation curves.
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