With the widespread use of the internet, it has become essential for every business, large or small, to have an online presence. The advent of the internet gave way to the concept of online businesses and since then the online market seems to have flourished immensely. Most businesses set up a website with their company’s address and phone number and consider their work done. However, this is not what online presence is about. Basically, an online presence is a virtual version of your business with an informative and welcoming website, a Twitter account and a Facebook page. In this electronic era, more and more people are searching online for the products and services they want rather than using a phonebook.

A business that ignores this important potential marketing platform will not be able to survive in the market for long. There are several reasons that contribute to the importance of having an online presence. They are:

Accessibility

The internet never sleeps or shuts down. This means that your business will get a 24 hour showroom through every portal that you are offering online. If you have maintained an online presence, potential customers will be able to research your product or service from the comforts of their own homes and even after hours. Having an online store also enables a business to make a sale as soon as the customer becomes interested no matter what time of the day or night it is. This helps a business take advantage of impulse buyers who otherwise might show up at your brick-and-mortar store.

Brand Development

Raj, an internet marketing specialist from VideyWeb, says "At its core, the concept of brand building simply means building the trust of potential customers in your products or services". Having an online presence not just enables the customer to have access to your products, but also gives them an opportunity to check out your company. The quality and frequency of your posts, your interactions with other customers and online reviews help in forming a positive impression on a potential customer that could result in future sales.

Greater Audience

Your office or store will only encompass a few miles, but an online business works on a much larger area. Anyone who passes by the virtual doorstep of a business will know of your web presence and this could include people living next door or people living in a different country altogether. Depending on your offerings and the specific industry you deal in, a much wider customer base will open up for the business as compared to when using face to face interactions.

Easier Marketing and Selling

A most commonly known marketing fact is that people like to purchase, but don’t like to be sold. As long as your website has a well-written piece relating to your products and services, customers will be able to make a relaxed and informed decision as opposed to being pressurized by a pushy salesperson. Online presence also allows a wider and cost-effective distribution so marketing is also quite easy as compared to traditional marketing.