In today’s generation Instagram is very helpful for small businesses who sell items from their home by making themselves or by selling as a medeator. Instagram has changed the thoughts of customers about buying and selling the goods. With its visual appeal and widespread reach, Instagram is a very good platform for making your creativity as a business and to connect with customers. but relying only on Instagram for your e-commerce efforts does not fully capitalize on the online marketplace. In this blog post we will discover why an Instagram account is not enough for your online sales and why you need a dedicated website alongside your Instagram handle.

The limitations of selling solely on Instagram

The main problem with instagram is that instagram is about photos and videos only. It’s hard to explain someone about the product in detail and for this we have to talk with customers through dms and on call and on text we can not explain everyone about a single product. For this we have to be online every time to check whether someone has asked about something or someone has asked inquiry or not, it’s not possible to be online and give quick replies to customers.
On instagram getting noticed and making sales is facing difficulty because of a reason that on instagram there are many and many persons of the same name. If a customer wants to visit your account again they have to remember your account name as it is if they forget one character or they used something else they will find more new people except you. Everyone is using the same platform and every one is trying to sell on instagram, so it’s hard to stand out or you have to be so unique that people cannot forget your instagram account.
Managing inquiries, orders and some other issues solely cannot be sufficient through instagram dms. Sometimes you may be so busy in explaining your new product to customers on dm you might miss some customers who dm you for order or for some other stuff. Or it can happen that a customer had messaged 2 or 3 sellers on instagram at a time and you delayed your response to them. They might be shifted from you to others, or they just get frustrated while waiting for your reply and you lose your customer.
As instagram is an online platform they have there different policies on which we don’t have any control on them and this thing might affect our business. If you are visible on top of instagram some updates to their algorithm can suddenly decrease your visibility and may become lower and your potential customer will not be able to find you or they will choose anyone else instead of you to purchase products which they want. By changing the policies of instagram your selling approach might be restricted by new rules.
It doesn’t matter on instagram that your account is private or public it will be limited to some people only which are connected to you. Many of your potential customers won’t see your stuff. On instagram you will not get notified that someone is visiting your website until they text you in your dm. By this you can not connect to them and you can’t ask them for what they were looking for, what they want, or something which you have but the customer missed to see them. On instagram you can reach only those people who are following you. You just can not send a message to everyone notifying you about your new product. If you want to reach more people you have to spend a lot of money on the instagram ad. Advertisement of your product may cost more than you earn on instagram.

The benefits of having a website for your business

24/7 availability:-The website makes selling more easy and convenient as there is 24/7 availability. The potential customers can visit anytime, anywhere. This expands your reach beyond geographical limitations and traditional business hours, allowing customers to learn about your offerings at their convenience. All the information of your product will be available every time the customer or viewer can visit and see the description of every product, and we can change the description of products as we want to edit or update in the product’s details.

Information hub:-We can also say that a website can be an information hub of your product or of your service. A website provides a centralized platform to showcase crucial information about your business, such as your product or services, contact details, location, and operating hours. This way we do not get any problem searching because on websites all of them have their different domain name , so the visitors will not find any difficulty to search your website by your domain name.
Enhanced credibility:-Sometimes having a good website enhances your credibility. It looks like a professional website acts as a mark of legitimacy for your business. After seeing a good website without any filters to product or to your description, you will gain trust of your viewers and your customers. At this point they will suggest your website to their friends and to their family to take a look at your website and to purchase a product or a service from your website rather than to go and search for another one.
Cost effectiveness:-Compared to traditional advertising methods, websites offer a cost efficient way to reach a broader audience. If you get increasing viewers to your website it will automatically come up in the search list as a trustworthy website. Without spending a single penny for that if your product details are transparent it will increase your website position in the list and you will definitely see the results of more suffering on your website and by this you will get an increase in sales.

Customer insights:-On the website all the products and their details are visible to everyone so people can easily understand and dont have to wait for you to be online and send them information as it is all available on that page. There will be no delay for this thing and we can focus on the business instead of replying to everyone personally.
Social proofs:-On the website we can add our previous customers’ feedback for specific products that they used or they were using so new customers will be clear after seeing that you were selling the same products as were written in the description, there is no water added to the milk. This will get you the faith of your customers and people will easily trust and do not get a second thought of buying items from you.

Online payments gateway:-On the website we can get a payment gateway. By having this thing on our website it will be a big advantage for the bot butter and seller. Sellers will not think twice for paying as they are getting all the facilities of upi, net banking, debit and credit card. By having this thing the customers will feel safe for transferring money as they know if something happens they have the information of tracking the money and return back policies. And same for the website owner they have a clear transaction of the payments.

Improved Customer Service:-Websites can provide a platform for self-service options, such as FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) sections or knowledge bases. This empowers customers to find answers to common questions on their own, reducing the burden on your customer service team and offering a convenient solution for simple inquiries. We can add frequently asked questions for every particular product and services, so customers will get clear of their confusion about that and without interrupting you.

Contact by call to action:-On the website we have call to action buttons for their email or number, by which we can give them basic information about our website, products, and services. By this the customer will be notified regularly of our discounts and they will regularly visit our website and see new products, service.

Overall, a website is a great way to make your business more successful. It’s like having a helpful and hardworking employee on your team, working around the clock to bring in new customers and help your business grow.

Enhancing customer experience through a dedicated website

Imagine a world where your business is open 24/7, readily accessible to anyone with an internet connection. That’s the power of a dedicated website – a virtual space tailor-made to delight your customers at every touchpoint. Here’s how it elevates their experience:

User-Friendly Design: Ensure the website is easy to navigate with intuitive layout and clear menus. Make it accessible across various devices to accommodate different user preferences.
Information Accessibility: Provide comprehensive information about your products or services, including descriptions, pricing, specifications, and frequently asked questions (FAQs). This helps customers make informed decisions without having to contact support.
Personalization: Implement features that allow users to personalize their experience, such as creating accounts, saving preferences, or receiving personalized recommendations based on their past interactions.
Customer Support: Offer multiple channels for customer support, including live chat, email, and a dedicated support ticket system. Make sure support resources are easily accessible from every page of the website.
Self-Service Options: Empower customers to find solutions to common issues on their own through self-service options like knowledge bases, troubleshooting guides, or video tutorials.
Online Ordering and Transactions: Enable customers to make purchases or bookings directly through the website. Implement a secure payment gateway and provide options for different payment methods to cater to diverse preferences.
Feedback Mechanisms: Incorporate feedback forms or surveys to gather input from customers about their experience with the website and your products/services. Use this feedback to continuously improve the website and customer satisfaction.
Integration with Other Systems: Integrate the website with other systems such as CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software, inventory management, or analytics tools to streamline operations and provide a seamless experience for customers.
Regular Updates and Maintenance: Keep the website up-to-date with fresh content, product updates, and security patches. Regular maintenance ensures smooth functionality and enhances trust in your brand.
Mobile Optimization: With the increasing use of mobile devices, optimize the website for mobile responsiveness to ensure a seamless experience for users accessing it from smartphones and tablets.

Expanding your reach beyond Instagram with SEO

As we know Instagram is the top app right now but for business purposes it’s not the only way to reach new people who want what you offer. SEO(search engine optimization) can help you show up higher in search results on google, so more people can find you and your business, what you do, what you offer.

More visitor naturally: on Instagram it’s not in our hand to make yourself visible or show your stuff, but SEO helps your website rank higher in search results. It means that when someone types any word on google related to your business, your website is likely to come on top. This thing will bring you new customers for free.

Find the right people: with the help of SEO, we can get target specific words people search for that words called as keywords. We use more keywords which customers can ask google than it will make your website visible on top by the help of that keywords. So the more keywords we use more our website will be visible.
Keeps growing for a longtime: on Instagram we pay for ads, if we stop paying they will stop giving this service. On the other hand SEO benefits up over time. The more we work on our content the more people will engage with our website, the more people will engage with our website the more growth we will do.
Connect in more ways: SEO brings many people to your website, where you can connect with them beyond Instagram. Website is your own digital space with endless possibilities to interact with people.

Here’s how you can connect with visitors beyond Instagram’s limitation:

Email capture: you can give a valid reason to visitors to sign up on your website like discounts, contact updates, or pre booking of new products on a particular time. This will allow users to connect with you even after they leave your website.
Call-to-actions: having a clear call to action button on your website will encourage visitors to go on the next step. It could be like scheduling a consultation, booking an appointment, downloading a resource, or buying the product directly. We can make a timer to call the action button from which people will see that there is limited timing to buy than people will make a faster decision for buying that product.
Live chat: implementation of a live chat feature for a limited period of time will access the traffic of the crowd at that time and you will gain more customers in a specific time to chat. Immediate support and answer to customers’ questions in real time will make them more comfortable with your website. This enhances customer service and increases the likelihood of conversions.
Social media integration: Prominently display links to your other social media profiles, including Instagram. This encourages cross-platform engagement and strengthens your brand presence across multiple channels.
Blog content: Regularly posting high-quality, informative blog content establishes your brand as an authority in your field. This encourages visitors to spend more time on your site, increases the chances of them returning, and builds a loyal following.

Look like an expert: ranking high in search results makes you look like you are dedicated and a professional in your stuff. This builds trust with potential customers, who are more likely to choose a business that shows up prominently in search. Sometimes new customers visit only a website that pops up when they search so make yourself pops up so you will get more customers visiting your website. Some experts keeps these things in mind while creating a website im sharing that important things with you:

Find the right words: Figure out what words people search for when looking for things like yours. Make your website awesome: Create great content that includes these words and helps people learn something new. Help search engines find you: Make sure your website works well on phones and is easy for search engines to understand.
Get others to talk about you: Ask other websites to link to yours, which helps you appear more relevant.

Building trust and credibility with a professional website

Your website is often the first impression potential customers have of your business. This makes building trust and credibility through your website crucial for success. Here are some key strategies to achieve this:

Professional Appearance:

Design : a well designed and well organized website will appear very clear. It should be user-friendly, words of content must be understandable, it should be consistent with your brand identity. You must not forget that your design of the website will be somewhere related to your product or service.
High-quality content : your website must have accurate and correct information and engaging content. Make sure that you avoid writing mistakes and grammatical errors.
Mobile-friendliness : most of our people will visit this website on mobile phones only. So, you will have to make sure that your website displays and functions flawlessly on all devices.

Transparency and Authenticity:

Clear Contact Information: Make it easy for visitors to find your contact information, including phone number, email address, and physical address if applicable.
About Us Page: Tell your story! Share your company’s history, mission, and team members. This personalizes your brand and fosters connections with potential customers.
Testimonials and Reviews: Showcase positive feedback from satisfied customers. Include testimonials with names and photos whenever possible for greater authenticity.

Credibility Signals:

Professional photography and visuals: High-quality images and videos enhance the user experience and showcase your products, services, or team in a polished manner.
Testimonials and reviews: Positive feedback from satisfied customers builds trust and social proof, encouraging potential customers to choose your business.
Awards and recognition: Highlighting any awards, certifications, or affiliations with reputable organizations demonstrates your commitment to excellence and industry expertise.

Security and Privacy:

Secure website: Implement secure encryption (HTTPS) to safeguard user information and transactions, demonstrating your commitment to protecting customer data.
Clear privacy policy: Clearly explain how you collect, use, and protect user data. This fosters transparency and builds trust with your audience.

Professional Contact Information:

Easily accessible contact details: Make sure your contact information, including email address, phone number, and physical address (if applicable), is prominently displayed and easily accessible.
Responsive communication: Respond promptly and professionally to inquiries and concerns. This demonstrates your commitment to customer service and builds trust in your brand’s reliability.

Conclusion: the power of combining Instagram and a website for business success

The strategic pairing of Instagram and a website unlocks a potent force for businesses seeking growth and success. This dynamic duo, when leveraged effectively, offers a comprehensive approach to:

Boost Brand Awareness: Instagram’s visual storytelling prowess captures attention and cultivates brand identity. By directing users to your website through your profile and posts, you expand your reach and establish a strong online presence.
Drive Targeted Traffic: Instagram’s advertising tools and clickable links in bios and stories propel interested users directly to your website. This targeted traffic translates into potential leads and customers.
Enhance Customer Engagement: Foster interactive connections with your audience on Instagram through engaging content and features like polls and stories. This fosters community spirit and encourages them to visit your website for more detailed information or to complete an action.
Streamline the Sales Funnel: Features like Instagram Shopping seamlessly integrate product discovery with purchase, allowing users to buy directly from the platform. This shortens the sales funnel and simplifies the customer journey.
Gain Valuable Insights: Both platforms offer valuable analytics that provide insights into user demographics, engagement levels, and website traffic sources. These insights empower data-driven decision-making and campaign optimization for improved results.

In conclusion, combining Instagram’s visual appeal, community-building potential, and targeted advertising with a website’s comprehensive information, sales capabilities, and detailed analytics creates a powerful synergy that propels businesses towards success. By harnessing the strengths of both platforms, you can effectively connect with your target audience, nurture relationships, and ultimately achieve your business goals.