It’s imperative for businesses of all sizes to create and maintain a strong online presence on the right networks. If you haven’t yet put in the time or effort to cultivate the way people see your business in the digital world, it’s not too late! In fact, the time is NOW.
What exactly is an online presence?
An online presence is the collective existence of a company or individual that can be found via an online search.
In layman’s terms, if your business has a website or you’ve created a business page on Facebook, you have taken the initiative to create an online presence. The real question is, are you maximizing your potential reach?
If your answer is no, let’s take this a step further, because there is a vast difference between simply having a website and having an effective presence that can reap benefits for your business.
Here are five ways you can improve your online presence:
1. Plan your work and work your plan
In order to set your business apart from others playing in the same field, you need to make sure you’re covering all your bases. The first step is to set your goals. Carefully strategize how you intend to achieve your goals. Itemizing each step can make your goal seem attainable, and it gives you boosts of confidence along the way.
2. Optimize your website
Your website does not have to be complicated. Keep it simple with pages that showcase your work, contact information, bio, testimonials and a blog where you can demonstrate your expertise and distinctive voice.
While simplicity is key, so too is making sure your website is optimized, as Forbes explains. It should be mobile-friendly, load quickly, include click-to-call buttons, feature updated information, be easy on the eyes and include search engine optimization.
3. Get Social
Make sure your presence on social media is recognized. If you haven’t already, figure out which social platforms are best for your business — Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter are the most common options, but your industry may require you to be on niche platforms as well.
Spend at least 20 minutes a day curating content that your followers would find useful and educational. Content is key — post photos and share articles, blogs or videos that are relevant to your business. Be responsive to comments and messages, as it shows others you care and value communication.
4. Get listed on key directory sites
The internet does what the phonebook used to. People turn to the internet first when they’re seeking recommendations for the perfect Italian restaurant or a local law firm. Online directories like Yelp, Google My Business, Facebook and Yahoo help business owners become visible to potential customers.
Make your business more easily found by listing it on those directories with the following information:
• Business name
• Business address
• Tracked phone number
• Business website
• Photos
5. Invest in online advertising campaigns
Investing in online advertisement helps direct your ads to a target audience and gain the eyes of those who are looking at similar information elsewhere. Each click can bring additional traffic to your website, but even if your ad isn’t clicked on, it still exposes your business to a possible customer.
Today’s online scene is competitive because new content is being created every minute of the day. For this reason, it’s vital for businesses to pay for at least some of their content to be seen across the web and beyond their fanbase.
Don’t know where to start? That’s OK. We’d love to help you maintain an impeccable online presence. Call us at 239-690-9840.
