The global market continues to shift toward an online economy, where stores can fulfill orders without brick and mortar locations, entrepreneurs can work from anywhere in the world, and consumers can procure whatever they need without leaving their home. In 2017, online sales amounted to 2.3 trillion dollars. This number is expected to double by 2021.
If you run an online business, whether in the goods or services industry, you need the right tools to succeed. Here are some of the essential tools for online businesses in 2018.
Email Marketing Systems
The name of the game is automation. Once you have someone in your sales funnel, it can take a lot of work to build a rapport and cultivate trust before encouraging them to make a purchase. Once they make that first purchase, it’s a lot easier to make subsequent ones.
An email marketing system helps automate this process and push people through your sales funnel while you focus on other areas of the business. To do this effectively, you’ll need to have a lead to encourage customers to sign up for your email list. You’ll also require a bulk email list verification service to ensure your emails are actually going somewhere.
Google Analytics
If no one is visiting your website, you’ll struggle to generate leads for your business. No leads mean no sales, and no sales mean you won’t be in business for long. Google Analytics allows you to take a comprehensive look at the traffic to your website, including which parts of your site people visit most often, how long they spend there, and which pages they leave behind quickly. This information can help you identify if the flow of your website needs work and how effective promotions are.
Using Google Analytics allows you to see your demographic and create custom reports to pull the information you want in a timely manner. All of this and more free of charge!
Time Trackers
If you work with a remote team, it’s important to know how many hours everyone is putting in. Some prefer to use apps to get the job done, while others prefer the simplicity and versatility of using a shared Excel spreadsheet and Free Time Tracking Spreadsheets | Excel Timesheet Templates. Regardless of which method you choose, tracking hours can help you ensure the work produced matches the time put in and you are meeting tax reporting requirements for your employee or contract worker.
Social Media Management Platforms
Social media is a great way to extend your reach and drive more traffic to your website. It’s such a time-consuming necessity that social media management has become a popular online business itself. If you’re not at the point where you can outsource your social media management, you’ll want to invest in a platform that can help you through the process.
A few popular platforms are HootSuite, Buffer, and MeetEdgar. You’ll want to be sure that the platform you use is up to date on the ever-changing social media landscape and can repurpose old content. Like email marketing systems, and effective social media management platform can sell your business while you focus on other things.
While all these tools are essential for conducting business online in 2018, the most effective tool is you. Set goals, dedicate yourself to the cause, and get ready to grow.
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