With the year 2020 slowly disappearing in the rearview mirror, it will be hard to forget the enormous impact it had on the world and all sorts of businesses. No one was expecting a pandemic to bring the world to a halt and placing everyone and everything under lockdown. Very few companies were prepared for this sort of tragedy, and even fewer companies had the necessary procedures in place to keep their heads above water.

Companies had to adjust to the new world and adopt a new way of doing things. It was no easy task, and learning on the fly was a valuable characteristic to have in 2020. Luckily, many companies were able to adjust pretty quickly, thanks to the type of technology available in this modern age. The world was moving in an online direction anyway, and everyone knew it would be the future norm. Still, because of 2020 and the Covid-19 pandemic, this all became a reality a lot quicker than anyone would have anticipated –  everything went online.

Many people would argue against going online as it does not have a personal touch to it with the absence of physically interacting with people. Another argument might be that going online will deprive many people of their jobs and that providing for their families will be a bigger worry than the ongoing pandemic which will ultimately have a massive impact on the economy of many countries. Going online can be very daunting as it is somewhat unchartered waters one would step into, but the rewards can be more significant than you ever thought possible.

These few tips listed below will encourage you to take your business online by providing you with the benefits that come along with it. Yes, it would be a lot easier for some companies to operate online than others, so it ultimately comes down to the type of business you run or intend to start. Even though some companies will benefit from going online more than others, it is believed that everyone will inevitably be better off this way. Remember, the world is moving forward at a drastic pace, and if you do not proceed with it, you may get left behind!

#1: More Money in Your Pocket

Running an online business will not be free of charge, but the cost of running an online business will be much lower than the older way of doing things. Most online companies will only need a website to be able to operate. Yes, you will need someone to do some maintenance on the website and sort out any issues you and your clients may encounter, but the overhead costs will be a smaller bite out of your business’ capital. Remember; the website is there for your convenience and will do most of the work for you, meaning it won’t be necessary for a lot of staff.

If you require staff members to aid in your business’s survival, they can also do their work online. And, for the most part, they’ll be able to work online depending on the type of service you provide. Some companies now operate 100% remotely since the announcement of Covid-19 back in 2020 – this is only possible with the availability of modern-day technology. The benefit of you and your staff working 100% remotely is that you won’t need to pay rent for an office building, which in turn can open up potential doors for business expansion and improvements made possible by the money saved on rent. As they say, there is no place like home, so why not make your home your office too?

#2: Marketing Made Easy

With the world moving in an online direction, people will use technology and online platforms even more, so why not use this as a marketing tool? While it is considered that word of mouth is the best form of marketing, it is usually on a regional basis which means it would be very limiting for your business to only rely on this specific marketing tool. Online marketing will enable you to reach a much larger and wider audience. With online marketing, you will not have the limitations of borders affecting you, which means that potential customers across the globe will be able to see your product or the service you provide.

The best thing about online marketing is you can incorporate the word of mouth factor into your online marketing structure by providing your customers or clients with a platform to leave comments or reviews. In doing this, you will have the best marketing tool in your arsenal with the bonus of it being accessible to anyone in the world. It is estimated that more than 50% of people in the world will look up a product or service online before deciding to purchase it. If you provide this googling customer with some reviews of your product or service, it will give them the nudge they needed to invest in your product or service.

#3: Green Is the Color of the Future

While the world is working towards a future that is online and dominated by technology, it is also leaning towards a greener future. Mother earth was once seen as a home with endless resources, but it has been made very clear that the resources are not as permanent as one might have thought. Although technology’s progression has been a valuable addition to society, it has not been too kind to our home. It is up to everyone on this planet to lend a hand where possible to ensure a long and healthy life for our planet. It might seem contradictory, but taking your business online will help make the future more green. There are many software systems out there that will enable your company to become completely paperless. Just imagine the number of trees you will save, all the while making it more convenient for you and your business as well. There are many different ways to store your data online, from online data centers to PostgreSQL, ensuring that your business’ data is safe and secure. Going paperless is the key to a brighter and greener future for everyone.

#4: Accessible to Anyone, Anytime

With your company online, it will mean that anyone with an internet connection will be able to access you any time of the day. Yes, this means that you will grant your customers or clients 24/7/365 access to your business as the internet is never on a break or a holiday. As mentioned previously, most of the potential customers will search for your product or service online, so if your business is not accessible to them at that very moment, they will not hesitate to seek your competitors’ assistance – this will be bad for your business but beneficial for your competition. It does not matter if your product or service is ten times better than that of the competition; if the customer can not reach your business, they will seek assistance elsewhere. Not only will you be lending a helping hand to your competition, but you will look unprofessional as the customer was not able to access your business at a time they needed it most.

Online businesses are not a new trend that everyone is suddenly jumping onto as it has been around for a fair number of years. Recent events like the Covid-19 pandemic that made its presence known in 2020 have made it more evident that online businesses are sustainable and possibly the best solution for the future. You may have to take a risk, but the most significant risks often produce immense rewards. Even though the risk might be substantial, an online business’ benefits are much larger and will undoubtedly outweigh the risk taken.

The year of 2020 was almost a sort of trial run where many companies have had to gamble whether or not an online business is the right move in this chess game we call life. Luckily for you, you won’t have to wonder as much, seeing as it has proven to be a successful way to run your business. You are in a perfect position as the risk will be smaller in comparison to those that came before you. Learn from those who have failed and make sure that you don’t make the same mistakes they made. If you are considering leaping into the online world, the best time to do so is right now.

The world is ever-changing and evolving by the second – meaning the world you knew yesterday is gone forever. This is a good thing, because the way doing business is changing benefits you as an entrepreneur, as there exists more and more ways of making money every single day with the advancement of technology. Take the chance now and reap the rewards thereof; otherwise, you may fall further and further behind everyone that dared taking a chance. No one likes being left behind, so just make sure that it is not you.