Whether you run a small organization or a large company, your online presence is one of the most valuable parts of your business. Your business needs to have an active Internet presence in order to reach new customers and make new sales. Before you can market your products or services online, though, you need to educate your employees about online business.
Discuss Importance of Online Business
Talk with your employees about online shopping. Do they shop online? Do they know other people who shop online? When might online shopping be valuable? Start a discussion on the benefits of online shopping for the customer, but then remind your employees that Internet business is also good for you since it means frequent orders and less overhead costs, such as a storefront.
Have Employees Take an Online Course
One of the most influential ways you can educate your employees is with eLearning training for businesses. Some companies, like The eLearning Guild, know that this can be helpful to streamline employee training. Have your employees each take an online course specifically designed to help them learn how to market and sell products online.
Practice Using an Online Store
Have each of your employees use an online store to look for something to purchase. Then have a discussion on what they learned, what they liked, and what didn’t work for them. For example, did they like the descriptions of the products they were looking for? Did they like the images and pictures that accompanied the description? When your employees learn to analyze what works for other stores, they’ll be able to better market for your company.
Discuss Differences between Online and Offline Business Practices
One of the most important things to teach your employees is that professionalism is extra important when it comes to communicating with customers online. Just because there’s a computer screen separating you doesn’t mean it’s okay to become frustrated or angry with customers. Talk with your employees about proper business practices when it comes to client communication via email or social media channels.
Remember that your employees will have a learning curve when it comes to Internet business. Even if they’ve sold products online before, the world of technology is constantly changing and there will always be new information they can learn and use. Be patient as your employees learn how to navigate the world of online marketing, selling, and business.
