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How to create a marketing plan for your small business - build a brand, target customers and set prices that will maximise sales.

The internet has transformed business marketing. No matter what you do, the internet is likely to be at the heart of your marketing strategy.

Social media is firmly established as a marketing tool. Having a presence opens up new lines of communication with existing and potential customers.

Good advertising puts the right marketing message in front of the right people at the right time, raising awareness of your business.

Customer care is at the heart of all successful companies. It can help you develop customer loyalty and improve relationships with your customers.

Sales bring in the money that enables your business to survive and grow. Your sales strategy will be driven by your sales objectives.

Market research exists to guide your business decisions by giving you insight into your market, competitors, products, marketing and your customers.

Exhibitions and events are valuable for businesses because they allow face-to-face communication and offer opportunities for networking.

How to choose the best ecommerce host

Are you in the process of finding an ecommerce host? Do you feel a little overwhelmed by the huge selection of providers? You're about to make an important decision and don't want to leave anything to chance. In this article, these questions and more will be answered, equipping you with the knowledge to select a host that not only meets your needs but also propels your business to new heights.

Maximising site performance: speed and uptime guarantees

Do you know what the cost of a second’s delay in load time is to your business? The first thing you should look out for when searching for an ecommerce hosting provider is the speed and uptime guarantees offered. Speed should not be underestimated. It’s a crucial factor in customer retention and conversion rates. Also, consider the uptime guarantees to ensure your web shop is always online. Moreover, you should give thought to hosts that offer resource scaling to handle traffic surges without a hitch.

SEO and marketing tools: boosting your online visibility

How does your website rank on the search platforms? Selecting a host with integrated SEO tools can elevate your visibility. Are you utilising automatic sitemap generation and search-friendly URLs to make your site more accessible to search bots? You also want to consider the benefits of analytics tools that track and optimise your marketing campaigns. Lastly, don’t forget that the right ecommerce host can offer marketing credits for advertising platforms to kickstart your promotions.

Security protocols: safeguarding your ecommerce empire

Is your ecommerce empire fortified against cyber threats? You must ensure your host offers SSL certificates for secure transactions and firewalls to thwart attacks. Does the host provide two-factor authentication? And don’t overlook the necessity of regular backups. Furthermore, is your host able to restore your site swiftly in case of data loss? Also, make sure that your platform is PCI-DSS-compliant, safeguarding payment information.

Scalability solutions: growing with your business

Look for hosts that offer elastic hosting solutions, allowing you to scale resources up or down based on traffic demands. Is your host ready for your 'busy season' when your traffic peaks? Think about auto-scaling capabilities, which can ensure your site remains fast and responsive during traffic spikes. Even more than that, how quickly can you upgrade your plan? With on-demand resource allocation, you can upgrade seamlessly without any downtime.

Customer support: your 24/7 ecommerce ally

What happens in a worst-case scenario? Is your ecommerce host just a call away? 24/7 customer support is not a luxury; it’s a necessity for your web shop. Your host should offer live chat, phone, and email support. Are their support teams knowledgeable about ecommerce platforms, especially during high-traffic events like sales or holidays? Every minute of downtime is a lost opportunity, so you should need a good partner here that you can rely on.

Copyright 2024. Article was made possible by site supporter DNG.

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