Every business needs to have an online presence to succeed in the current business landscape. An effective online presence can help your business reach new customers, increase sales, and stay competitive in the marketplace. But it’s not enough to set up social media profiles and hope they do all the work for you.
We are living in a digital world, and businesses that aren’t online might as well not exist. The internet is no longer a place we visit; it’s a utility. New users come online every day and spend more time there than any other medium. Having an online presence is no longer optional for many businesses, but having one doesn’t mean you have to take on a lengthy commitment with the constant upkeep of Twitter and Facebook accounts. Here are quick tips to get your business’ online presence started right!
Get a Good Domain Name
With social media, content, and SEO playing critical roles in search engine optimization (SEO), having a great domain name is more important than ever. Think about your business’s target audience and what would appeal to them when choosing a domain name. Does it make sense for your brand? Are there spelling errors or other issues that will be off-putting? Is it memorable? What are some other potential names?
Create Relevant Content
It’s often said that content is king. To achieve an online presence, you need to be creating relevant and engaging content regularly. It could mean posting reviews, commenting on industry blogs, creating user guides, or publishing thought-provoking opinions. For example, content marketing for HVAC companies can include informative videos like how to choose a furnace or what causes air conditioning to break down. By regularly sharing relevant content, your audience will become familiar with your brand, resulting in more leads.
Optimize for Social Media
In business, you know that social media is incredibly important. Make sure your social media profiles are as professional and up-to-date as possible by using every profile photo, link, and slogan you have across every platform. Also, be sure to regularly update your status updates with news about your business or industry—and don’t forget to use hashtags!
Design a Website That Sells
Whether you build your site on WordPress, Squarespace, or another provider, make sure it includes a well-designed page and a portfolio of work. A potential client will be able to learn more about your style, how long you’ve been in business, what other businesses you’ve worked with in past projects, and more. Ensure there is also an easily accessible way for them to contact you through an email form or phone number.
Mobile Matters
Most consumers spend more time on their smartphones and tablets, so it makes sense for businesses to make sure they have a strong mobile presence. That means having a dedicated mobile website with content optimized for smaller screens and making it easy for customers to find your contact information. It also means having apps. If you’re not already on major app platforms like Google Play and Apple’s App Store, now is a good time—and mobile versions of your website can help you get there.
Connect With Your Audience on Social Media
Social media has taken over, and now it’s easier than ever for customers to find your business on sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Creating accounts for your business is free, so there’s no reason not to be online; best of all, social media offers an excellent way for you to connect with customers casually. Share pictures from behind-the-scenes at your company, post videos about how your products are made, or even host giveaways.
Tell a Story
It doesn’t matter what your business does or sells; people care about your products or services because of how they can improve their lives. You have to share your customers’ stories—especially their before and after results. People want an easy way out of a difficult situation and will always be drawn toward a product that solves a problem for them. If you show potential customers how you’ve solved other issues in their shoes, they will trust you to do it again with your solution.
Go With the Trends
We live in a digital world, and you need to be online. Make sure you’re investing time in areas that can get results. You don’t want your business sitting on social media sites with no activity. Instead, look at what kinds of posts your competitors are putting out there and figure out how to be unique. Create different types of content than they do (i.e., images versus links) and focus on developing an aesthetic for your brand across all platforms that fit well with your overall image (remember: consistency matters). If someone is scrolling through their Facebook newsfeed looking for something interesting to click on, would they rather see pictures or text?
The web is a powerful business tool and an amazing marketing platform. If you don’t have your website, you are missing out on valuable connections and possibilities for new business. It takes time and effort, but it’s worth it. So get started today.
