Kelly Keller, Negosentro | With the boom of technology, Internet, and social media, establishing an online presence has become more important than ever before. Whatever your business’ product, industry or niche, there’s a place for you on the Internet. A survey conducted by Google revealed that 97% of consumers search on the Internet for products and services. So, how do you communicate and attract this audience? Its simple, don’t just set up an online presence, build a solid Internet presence. But how do you get started? There is a lot that goes into establishing a credible online presence, from setting up a website all the way to understanding the best way to engage and interact with your target audience. To help, here are tips to build an online presence.
- Have a plan
So if you are convinced that getting online ad growing online is the next best thing for your business, set your goals. Write a plan; itemize objectives, aims, and goals. Careful planning and strategizing on how to achieve your goals helps break down the process and makes the goals seem attainable. Don’t even think of launching your business online without a plan. Creating an online persona for the sake of it can have serious consequences. Remember, taking your business online is a marketing strategy aimed at icing you a competitive edge and helping you achieve your overall business goals.
Look for first thing at first. Prioritise your strategy like for working on your website you need a stable internet connection, look out for the best connection of your area. Then look for site architecture. Find some good developer, SEO and designer to make your website becomes search engine and user friendly.
- Your website
The first item on your list of getting and growing your business online should be creating a website. Do not just build a basic website because your competitors are doing so. Build a great website. Your website is the focal point of your online presence. It contains all the important information about your business that the audience wants to know. This website’s design and content are critical. But that doesn’t mean how colorful your website is. It’s about the formatting design. A well-formatted site will give life to your content. You want a site that grabs the customer’s attention from the moment they open it.
- Search engine optimization
It doesn’t make sense to set up a website for your business only to have it drown in a sea of content on the Internet. Excellent use of search engine optimization techniques can improve your site ranking on search engines. A report from Fleishman-Hillard revealed that 89% of consumers use search engines to research about businesses, services, and products before they make purchases. In case you aren’t confident enough to embark on an SEO campaign, ask for help from experts or look for a beginner’s guide to SEO.
- Mobile
A business website is enough to build an online presence, but since you want your business to thrive online, then your business should be mobile accessible. This involves making mobile-friendly websites and building a mobile App. According to Smart Insights, Apps account for 89% of mobile media time. Consumers want to access information on Apps. Take advantage of this fact. Going mobile will put your business ahead of the competition. Don’t forget that if potential customers don’t have mobile access to your business, they will move on to another business.
- Social media
The idea behind going online is to build customer loyalty and generate additional revenue. Today, everything revolves around social media. However, before you choose a social media platform for your business, do your due diligence. Not all platforms will be relevant to your business. After choosing a platform, decide what you are going to be sharing with potential customers. Social media will help your business to build a tribe of loyal followers. Here, engagement is key. The more engaging and compelling your content is the more likely people will comment, like and share your content. Positive social activity increases your brand’s exposure.
Why build an online presence?
Every business can benefit from an online presence. In fact, if customers cannot find you easily in this digital age, they will easily switch to your competitor. Here are a few reasons why you should establish an online presence for your business.
- An online identity establishes trust and credibility
As stated earlier, a majority of consumers are quite savvy, and 97% of them search on the Internet for products or services before they make a purchase. Therefore, if you lack an online presence, consumers are less likely to trust your business. The simple act of taking your business online will allow potential customers to know your products or services. It will show them that you are a trustworthy business.
- Build a strong brand and efficient marketing
Social media is an incredible marketing tool. In fact, a study conducted by Forbes revealed that reps making use of social media as part of their marketing strategy outsell 78% of their peers. Your brand distinguishes you from other businesses. Ones you have a strong online identity, you will develop a passionate community that will like and share your content. At the end of the day, you will have more eyes on your brand.
- Reputation management
Even if you don’t have an online identity, chances are your customers talk about you online. Without an online presence, you will have no idea about what they are talking about. Moreover, you will be powerless to implement damage control. Being online plays a significant role in managing your company’s reputation.
- Improved customers service
The internet provides you with 24/7 connection to consumers. This is a great opportunity for you to deliver great customer care. Answer questions and provide assistance. This way, consumers will find your customer care satisfying hence strengthening your relationship with your customers.
Starting and growing your business online requires tremendous effort and patience. There are plenty of puzzle pieces to be put together. This article should a roadmap to help you build a strong online presence for profit maximization. Just remember, the process of growing online is never-ending. Always stay current to ensure that you not only brave the online frontier but also stand out from your competitors.
