Not so long ago, the location of your business influenced how likely it was to succeed. In days gone by, your customers were likely people who worked, lived, or holidayed near your premises. But in the digital age, this is no longer the case.
When your regional business operates successfully online, it can help you reach more customers in more places. With the right digital solutions, you can track the preferences and behaviours of customers regardless of whether they’ve ever visited you in real life.
Doing so helps you to serve a wide range of customers actively looking for products and services online. But where should you start? Keep reading to learn how three Australian regional businesses have achieved a thriving online presence.
Originally founded in the Northern Territory, Magpie Goose began its journey far from a big city and high-volume foot traffic. Now based in Brisbane, Queensland, this fashion label is more than meets the eye: Magpie Goose is a social enterprise that uses fashion to foster the celebration of Aboriginal culture, its people and their stories.
Today, the label focuses on creating wearable art from remote Australia and making those creations available across the globe. The brand’s social media and online content help it to connect with new customers, no matter their location.
To help build trust with online shoppers, Magpie Goose’s website is also protected with an SSL certificate* to show customers that cyber security is a top priority. For transparency, the certificate is clearly displayed on the Magpie Goose website’s privacy policy page.
Like many businesses located in Victoria’s Yarra Valley, Steels Gate winery is designed to be experienced in person. Fortunately, the vineyard’s website is now well-equipped to serve online shoppers, book future visitors, and cater to customers who can’t make it to the cellar door.
To help expand the business’s reach, the website not only offers the vineyard’s full range of wine and merchandise, but it also allows customers to share digital experiences with their friends and family.
With the help of technology solutions, multiple households can join the same video call for a virtual wine tasting hosted by Steels Gate. These online sessions may not come with a vineyard view, but private wine tastings that can be enjoyed from the comfort of one’s home do help to overcome geographic limitations.
The Steels Gate website is also secured with an SSL certificate*. And the business details how sensitive data, such as the birthdates customers enter to purchase alcohol online, is managed securely. This information is published on the website’s privacy policy page.
Wildflower Holistic Services runs a clinic located in regional New South Wales. In addition to welcoming customers to its regional premises, the health and wellbeing business runs a thriving online platform that embraces all that digital technology has to offer. Wildflower’s eCommerce web store sells the brand’s signature weighted blankets, and the website also offers virtual therapy sessions via video chat.
Wildflower Holistic Services has an impressive digital offering and their products and services can be accessed from just about anywhere. In addition to the expected customer enquiry methods, like email and phone, the website also has a live chat function for instant customer service. Their social media is also frequently updated with new, informative content to help keep customers engaged. Plus, along with a cyber-secure website, their online therapy sessions are encrypted and password-protected for patient privacy.
There are lots of ways to help your business thrive online, no matter your location. For example, offering services and experiences via video is becoming increasingly popular among small businesses in regional Australia. With the help of digital technologies and online marketing tools, you can also help improve the customer experience you deliver.
And remember, make sure you consider ways to build customer trust in the digital landscape. To do so, respond to enquiries promptly, share informative content, and educate yourself on cyber security and safety. The latter will help you to develop a strong privacy policy, demonstrating that you’re helping to protect your customers online. This, in turn, will help to build brand loyalty and keep your customers coming back for more.
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