If you’re the owner of a brick-and-mortar locale, and you’re thinking about going digital, then you’ll quickly feel like you might be a bit over in your head. There’s so much more to it after all than simply opening up an online store where you present your products and/or services. So, if you’re currently in this position and you’re looking for some help, make sure to keep reading as we’ll guide you through the start of your journey.
Analyzing a Successful Online Business
One of the most crucial steps when figuring out what to do is to learn from other companies that have made the transition to the online world, at least in our opinion. While not all strategies may be applicable to you, you might be surprised by how many may at least be adapted to your own company or simply act as a form of inspiration.
In this instance, we’ll be taking a look at a traditionally physical industry, that of casinos. This sector made its digital debut in the 90s to early 2000s and has been gaining mainstream popularity as time went on. This may have been slow at first but now it has reached unimaginable heights.
Now, online casinos have become the new norm, with millions flocking to online platforms to enjoy a wide variety of classic games, such as crypto-friendly blackjack. Those playing the online variant will notice that the same rules are followed, with the aim being to get closer to 21 than the dealer without going bust. However, there’s much more to their success than digitizing table games and games of chance – we can see how now such platforms offer options like crypto blackjack with diverse payment options, ranging from Bitcoin to Ethereum.
For those who haven’t dabbled in this sphere, crypto-friendly blackjack variants only differ from regular ones by incorporating crypto deposits, as well as exclusive crypto bonuses. This allows users a financial alternative to play blackjack amongst other casino games.
Another important factor that contributed to crypto blackjack’s mainstream popularity, and a great lesson to learn as a business, is the enhanced convenience. Players around the world can access the online casino using not only their PC but also their smartphones or tablets. As long as they have an internet connection, there is no difference as to what they get to enjoy.
Finally, online casinos allow their users to test out games like blackjack and its variants using the Practice Play mode. This doesn’t detract from the paid options but serves as a great way to ensure their clients know what they’re getting into and are happy with what they’ve chosen. This might be more useful to those who offer services rather than products, but it can still be something that may inspire when you do go digital but how you adapt this will be up to you.
Planning Your Transition
Now that we’ve assessed a company that has successfully gone digital, along with lessons and strategies you yourself can try out, let’s discuss the planning stage. This is arguably the most important step, as, without some organization, you may end up being all over the place and expending more resources than necessary.
Start by figuring out your budget and timeline for each goal you may have. However, make sure that it’s reasonable so that you don’t overexert yourself or your team, as that could have some pretty negative ramifications.
Some of the most common things you’ll need to think out are creating a platform through which your clients can find your company and make purchases. Depending on your skills, you may want to recruit someone to help with this, as having a professional-looking website is a must to ensure enhanced credibility. Just relying on any current popularity your physical store may have won’t be quite enough.
Start analyzing which technological advancements may benefit your business the most. Be it the use of cryptocurrencies for payment methods, to AI for more efficient data analysis, there’s plenty out there that can make your journey to the online world that much simpler.
Leveraging Social Media to Your Advantage
There are so many different marketing campaigns one can opt for, all of which have their merits. But few are quite as known for their efficacy as social media platforms, from Facebook to TikTok to Pinterest.
Sites like Instagram have especially been thriving in 2024, both with younger and older generations. In fact, thousands of different companies already have accounts on the site in question, usually garnering more success through smart content marketing strategies along with partnerships with popular social media creators.
For instance, food-related companies benefit from collaborating with influencers who are working in the same sector. These could be creators who film restaurant reviews or people who offer tasty recipes online.
To help you visualize how this could be useful, let’s use an example. Recently, you might have seen on your feed a recipe for an indulgent cheesy garlic bread from Chef Genevieve, which has been making the rounds online. Chef Genevieve, known for her approachable yet gourmet cooking style, has amassed over 1.2 million followers on Instagram with her quick and easy recipe videos.
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In her video recipes, she guides viewers through the simple steps to create a crowd-pleasing appetizer. Within the context of such video content, a partnership here could be formed in two ways, with a product being used, such as cheese, or a service promoted during the video.
For example, a premium cheese brand like Castello could partner with Chef Genevieve to feature their aged cheddar in the recipe. The post would include a brief mention of the cheese’s quality and a swipe-up link to purchase it directly. This type of influencer marketing not only exposes the partnering brands to Chef Genevieve’s engaged audience but also lends credibility through her endorsement.
Conclusion
Being a business owner is by no means a simple job, and when you decide to have both a brick-and-mortar and online company, it may feel like you’ve doubled the load on your shoulders. However, this extra work can prove to only help with your endeavor of owning a successful and long-lasting business.