3 Ways Online Business Can Stand Out from Rivals

Online businesses are already beginning to take over from physical ones. Not only does the ease of searching for items and comparing across sites take some of the hassle out of physical shopping but having more information at our fingertips helps to streamline the shopping experience. Online services are proving to be easier than having to make physical trips too – and allow you to analyze information to make an informed decision without having to do so in front of the person trying to sell you insurance, for example. But with so many online businesses vying for the same clientele, how can they make sure they stand out from rivals?

Social Media Presence

Most online businesses have a social media presence – you’d be foolish not to given how important social media is in our lives and how it is increasingly prevalent in our consumer decisions. As such, a strong social media presence can help customers determine which site they’ll give their custom to. For example, Microsoft’s Xbox arm has won a Guinness World Record for the responsiveness of their customer service.

They respond within 3 minutes (2 mins 42 seconds is their record) and are actively searching queries relating to the Xbox and any issues with its live component. The Xbox online store is a key profit driver in the business. So, showing customers that they are quick to respond to queries – and do so publicly – earns them trust and may help undecided customers make up their mind on the Xbox vs PlayStation dilemma.

Enticing Offers

Having offers to help attract customers in the first place is always useful. If they become bombarded with a slew of information, the site that provides them with the cheapest deal or the best value for money may end up remaining at the forefront of their minds. For example, welcome bonuses have become the norm for many industries, including the iGaming sector.

To provide players with the ability to choose the best online casino bonusfinder.com can find, the site considers multiple factors that each online casino provides – these include the kind of bonus on offer from free spins and reload bonuses to cashback and no-deposit free money bonuses. Potential customers can then weigh up which site may give them the best deal for signing up in the first place.  

Build Awareness Offline

While the battle at hand may be between two predominantly online businesses, that doesn’t mean that you can’t use all the marketing tools at your disposal. These include traditional advertising – TV, radio, magazines, even billboards. This will help to build up brand awareness and brand recall. So, when it comes time for someone to choose an online business, they will have a brand firmly at the front of their brain already.  

For example, when looking for peer-to-peer transaction service, many automatically think of Venmo. This is because the brand carefully cultivated their image over a decade to become a verb for such transactions. Phrases such as “Can you Venmo me the money?” and “I’ll Venmo you later” became part of our lexicon and helped place the brand in prime position should someone then need to begin using such a service.

.@Venmo wants to turn its brand into a verb, just like Google: https://t.co/kSw4sW6WFB pic.twitter.com/7AiO3auM7y

— Adweek (@Adweek) October 17, 2017

The battle of online vs physical businesses has developed into the civil war between online businesses themselves. The customer already knows they want to access an online service but needs to be pushed one way or another as to which business they actually choose to give their custom to. A strong social media presence, enticing offers, and building awareness offline can all help tip the scales in favor of one business.