The Shark Tank Factor: Is your business prepared?

Shark Tank is by far one of, if not thee, best show on television. It features many hard working entrepreneurs that are seeking investments to help grow their company or keep their company alive. However, with the growing popularity of Shark Tank, you are starting to see a new motive by entrepreneurs.

As Mark Cuban has mentioned, you are starting to see entrepreneurs that want to be on the show simply for the publicity, and right or wrong, it makes sense.

The most recent episode, the season finale in May, had 6.491 million viewers. That is 6.4 million people you can introduce your company to. The awareness of your product or business to 6.4 million people in itself can give your company the boost it needs to survive or to grow. However – many businesses aren’t prepared.

While there are many things that take place behind the scenes to truly be prepared for a large PR spike, I want to touch on one – the website.

Since the show has started, I’ve seen so many businesses with some of the same website problems. Some companies flat out have terrible websites, some aren’t prepared to accommodate traffic spikes, some aren’t accommodating mobile visitors, etc.

It’s important to realize that people don’t just watch TV anymore, they watch it with their iPhones, iPads, and Laptops open and out. Even if they don’t, if they’re interested in your product, they’re going to want to check out your website sooner or later. Is the website ready? Here’s a quick check-list of a few important questions to take into consideration before appearing on Shark Tank (or in preparation to receive any type of PR in general):

  1. Is your website mobile-friendly? Can you accommodate the millions of viewers bugging on their smartphones trying to navigate to your website to learn more about what you offer and potentially buy right on the spot? Mobile websites will definitely help increase conversion rates so if you’re going on Shark Tank, make getting a mobile website a priority prior to the show airing!
  1. Is your website safe? Can people tell right away that this website is safe and secure and ready to process orders? Don’t let people wonder if the investment you’re seeking on Shark Tank is to finally give your company a safe and secure website.
  1. Is your website functioning? Sounds silly, but for real, is it? Is it working in all browsers? Does it look like your product is successful? Bad websites leave bad first impressions. Are you offering a product? Make sure your shopping cart is ready to go! Don’t overlook the fact that when people see what you’re offering, delicious cupcakes for example, they might want to buy it right then and there – are they able to? Don’t miss out on potential business by having a faulty website.
  1. Can your server handle the traffic spike? If you have cheap website hosting or a host who doesn’t know how to accommodate traffic spikes, chances are, the traffic spike from all the new eyes on your company can knock your website right offline and now you’re missing out on millions of people potentially going to your website (by the next pitch, they might forget your name!). Consult with a company like EndLayer, a high-end managed hosting company, and make sure that (even if you need a dedicated server) your website is prepared for millions of visitors to potentially hit your site! The last thing you want is to miss out on sales because your server crashed!
  1. Is your website state of the art? Let’s be honest, first impressions are important! If people visit your website and it looks like crap, they’re possibly going to think the same of your product! Be sure your website is up to date, current with offerings, and is a positive reflection of your product and the success you’ve had.
     
  2. Social media engagement: This is arguably one of the biggest points in my eyes, aside from making sure your website stays online. It is super important to engage with as many people as possible, especially on a platform like Twitter. Whether someone is mentioning you directly, asking you a question, complimenting you, or just talking about you - don't be shy, dive into the conversation! Your company has a voice and you should use it!

Some of these items may seem less important than others, but I strongly urge you to seriously evaluate the answers to each question. If you need help, feel free to shoot us an email and we’ll do our best to help you capitalize off the Shark Tank factor (or any other PR you might be receiving)!

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