In today’s digital age, when everyone “Googles” before forming an opinion, it’s essential for MSMEs to establish a meaningful digital presence. With more and more consumers turning to online platforms to research products, services, or individuals, having a comprehensive digital presence is essential. So much so that it can help MSMEs compete with larger organisations through:

– Increase visibility

– More reach to customers and 

– Ultimately, more growth for their business.

Let’s discuss some actionable tips MSMEs can implement to make their digital presence relevant.

1. Impressive Website

More than getting a good website is required. Your website needs to be:

• Mobile Friendly
• Fast Loading
• Without any bugs
• Most importantly – Regularly updated!

So, the catch lies not in getting a great website – but in a functional one that is regularly updated. For instance, businesses that update their website periodically see an average increase of 30% in lead generation.

2. Utilize social media

I am sure all MSME owners & leaders do realise that social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn are powerful tools to connect with their target audience. But then, most of them do feel unsatisfied with their Social Media presence.

How to overcome this, you may ask? Posting regularly, sharing relevant content, and engaging with your followers through events or competitions. For example, Chumbak, a lifestyle brand, has a significant presence on Instagram, sharing images of its products, behind-the-scenes glimpses of its stores, and user-generated content.

3. Optimize for search engines

Search engines, I believe, are every MSME’s best friend! By optimising their website for relevant keywords & achieving Top 10 results for the same in Google, MSMEs can attract huge volumes of highly relevant organic traffic to their website. Remember, these people are looking for your service or product. So, they have real needs & are in the market to buy!

Example: A small business in the fitness industry started implementing SEO tactics to improve its lead quality. They focused on targeting long-tail keywords related to their niche and optimised their website for local search. As a result, they saw increased organic traffic and a higher conversion rate from website visitors to leads.

4. Leverage email marketing

Email marketing is a cost-effective way for MSMEs to reach customers and promote their products and services. MSMEs can increase their email open rates and conversions by segmenting their email lists and sending targeted campaigns. Small businesses implementing effective email marketing strategies can see up to a 138% increase in their website’s click-through rates.

5. Invest in mobile optimisation

With more and more customers employing mobile devices to access the internet, MSMEs must optimise their websites for mobile devices. By ensuring that their website is mobile-friendly, MSMEs can provide a seamless user experience to their customers. A one-second extra wait in website load time can reduce page views by 11% and lead to a 7% loss in conversions for small businesses

To establish a meaningful digital presence, MSMEs can create an online store, use social media, optimise search engines, implement email marketing, and focus on mobile optimisation. By following these tips, MSMEs can connect with their target audience and strengthen their digital presence.