Many businesses start with a simple presence on a Facebook business page or an Etsy store — and there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s just important to realize that you don’t have total control over those platforms and you’ll likely be limited in terms of what you can do there. In addition, most e-commerce marketplace sites take a cut of your sales and do not enforce your brand as strongly in the eyes of customers.

You might want to consider expanding the digital footprint of your business to encompass a number of important elements:

Custom domain name. Your domain name is the heart of your business’s unique address on the web. It should tell people who you are and what you have to offer at a glance, direct them to your website, and help protect and promote your brand.

Website. Your website is your business’s online home. It’s where you tell your story, showcase products and services, start to establish credibility, and expand your reach.

Get a customer database started. Emails are a great way to keep your customers informed on what is going on with your business, current specials or promotions, encouraging reviews, proving follow-ups, and increasing customer engagement.

Social media. Getting active on the social networking sites where your customers spend their time is key to building an online community around your business. You can use sites like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube to market your products and services, establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry, and, most importantly, build relationships with your customers.

Email. Branded email campaigns are an affordable and effective way to communicate with your customers and generate leads.

Local reviews and directories. You can inspire consumer confidence by garnering positive reviews on third-party sites like Yelp and remaining current on business directories such as Google My Business.

If you need help with any of the above steps or any further needs to get started with taking your business online, contact us today for a free consultation.