What is digital transformation?
This blog will try to explain what is digital transformation and why it is important to small businesses.
Sounds like something from the 1980's classic children s cartoon transformers right! Its quite simple really its about taking your business on-line.
Regardless if you provide products or services the journey your prospects will most likely take will be on-line. There are lots of places it may start, social media, search, networking, exhibitions or anywhere.
The point is wherever they find you originally will generally then lead to a digital journey. Now in my humble opinion, this journey starts regardless of where they are in the buying process. I know we all like to think that everyone wants to buy from us straight away but this is simply not the case. So even if they just want to connect with you for their own benefit of trying to sell to you, your story starts to be told and the journey and the experience starts.
At some point in the process the researching starts, and the prospect is now looking to find answers to their questions. If they cannot find those answers and easily and quickly they will leave your website or whatever digital platform they are on and move to something or someone else.
Throughout the process they will be accessing your digital footprint across multiple platforms and networks and on different devices and its up to you to control that experience and guide it best you can by providing what they want and expect wherever and whenever they want it.
Some of this is more controlled like your social media posts and your email marketing. Others are harder to control like 3rd party review sites.
Digital transformation is taking your business to an on-line first company that has defined the customer journey and continues to invest and improve that experience not just for prospect but for customers as well.
There will be a number of moments throughout the journey and each person and company may be different.
Making sure your message is heard how you want it. What story are you trying to tell and more importantly what story are your customers and prospects telling themselves?
Digital transformation is the buying experience we ideally want and applying that to our own companies.
So does this apply to small business? I think so without a doubt. This is not just something for the major players in your industry, this is an opportunity for you to become a major player regardless of your size.
Those that take to the time to plan and invest into the customer experience will find customers for life and those customers will become the best sales people.
Times have changed, so has your customers and they way they buy, Is it time for you to transform your company into a digital first one?
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Author- Speaker - Consultant. Passionate about all things digital.