Running an online business can look like the simplest thing in the world to an outsider. Even if you’re someone who knows how business works, and you’ve been running your own little store for years now, you still might not be ready to take on the online world! It can be a hard transition, and seeing as your website will be available 24/7, you’ll always need to have your finger on the pulse. Which is why you need to know as much as you can right now before you get set up. Here are three of the top things you need to know.
It Can Be Slow
It can be slow to get up and running, it can be slow to attract customers your way, it can be slow to get some good reviews, and it can be slow to even just load the website! All in all, running an online business can feel like it takes an age. And when this happens, and you’re about 6 months in and feeling no traction, don’t let yourself get frustrated with the process.
The internet is always changing, yes, but users can still be slow to change their habits within this. Work with this, rather than against it. Load more content onto your website, build an SEO backlog, get on social media more often, and use this time to really solidify your brand.
You Will Get a Bad Review
A bad review is going to happen to you – it’s the law of averages, and it’s absolutely inevitable! Even the best business in the world with an incredible customer service plan is going to upset someone, and that someone will want to make their voice heard. So when the day comes that you do get a bad review, don’t let yourself panic.
Instead just go with the flow! Answer the reviewer and see if there’s anything you can do to change their mind. Be professional, be concise, and let the whole world see you care about your customer experience.
Of course, if you start getting a slew of bad reviews, it might be worth it to look into working with a reputation expert. Check out these NetReputation Reviews to get a good overview of what you’re looking for here; one or two bad reviews is fine, but don’t let the train run away from you.
Customer Service is Your Greatest Asset
What you do for your customers is what really matters. You can make a fancy website, do all the right branding in the world, and still fail because there’s no real substance there. Your customer experience is what needs focusing on.
A good customer experience guarantees the repeat business and a place in the market. So don’t worry if your website doesn’t look ‘modern enough’, as the real customer reviews will speak for themselves!
The online working world can be difficult to master, but when you set the foundation just right, your working experience will naturally follow.