As a small business advisor, there are some factors that you have to take into consideration. It is no secret that small businesses do not boast the financial power of huge conglomerates. That is why it is always beneficial to pick a business strategy and stick to it right away. One of the critical decisions to make is deciding whether to focus on in-store or online customers. This decision has to be made because for small businesses, it is impractical to focus on both angles. RedBrain provides some helpful data in their infographic, concerning various companies and how much their online/in-store campaigns helped them achieve varying levels of success.
As an advisor, it is your job to weigh the merits and demerits of each shopping form for the business in question. Online shopping is a matter of convenience. Most online shoppers prefer it because it saves time, affords customers the ability to compare prices and offers greater variety. However, before advising your client to stick to online customers, you have to consider the services/products that your client is offering the general public. Is it practical to provide such services online? Can such products be sold online conveniently?
As an advisor to a small business owner, you must consider their product and overall business goals. You should also consider the age group of their prospective customer base. All of these factors play a prominent role in deciding whether a physical store or an online store will be the best bet for their business.