These days, everyone uses the internet. When looking for a new hairstylist or finding a personal injury attorney, people often start their search on the internet. Whether they’re searching for “hair stylists near me” or “best personal injury attorney in Orlando, FL,” the options that show up closest to the top are the businesses that are chosen the most frequently.
This is because of online presence and search engine optimization (SEO). Online presence refers to how easy it is to find your brand online, and SEO is used to ensure that your website and web pages rank high when searched for on Google or other search engines. With these tools in your kit, you can make your brand into something impossible to ignore when searching for a service or product in your industry.
But how do you build an online presence? What steps should you take to ensure that your presence is one that simply cannot be ignored? Use the following eight strategies to increase and improve the online presence of your small business.
1. Create Value
Overall, the goal of most company’s is to make money. To make money from your company, you need to have customers. To have customers, you’ll need to offer something that is of value to potential customers. The idea of being customer-centric is essential these days, so you should always make sure that you’re selling a product or service that adds value to someone’s life. Otherwise, people won’t be interested.
Not only should your products and services add value, but so should your content. If someone is looking for valuable information surrounding your product or the industry you work in, they should be able to find it on your website. The more often someone visits your website for content and information, the more likely they will purchase from you when they’re ready.
2. Be Active Online
You should also aim to be active online consistently, allowing potential customers to easily reach you with any questions they may have. If customers have questions they need to have answered before they make a purchase, they’re more likely to make that purchase if their questions are answered promptly. Keep in mind that they may be asking the same questions of multiple brands, so responding promptly with valuable information is a great way to stay ahead of the pack.
On top of that, being active online frequently will allow you to engage with your customers on social media, allowing them to perceive you as a friendly, customer-focused brand.
3. Produce Content Consistently
Your website should definitely have a blog, and you should make sure that you’re producing quality content consistently. If people rely on your content, they’ll want to see new information consistently and on a schedule. Consistent content is also a great way to be constantly improving your SEO.
4. Develop Relationships
Developing relationships with your customers is the best way to lock in forever customers. There’s a reason why coffee shops have regulars. It’s because they take the time to get to know people and their orders whenever they come in. The same can be done with small businesses.
The best way to do this is to interact with your customers on your social media pages, like your Facebook page or Instagram. These relationships will also help you grow your brand, as customers will offer valuable suggestions for future products or services. The more you know your customers, the better you’ll know what they want.
5. Master Search Engine Optimization
Search engine optimization (SEO) is one of the best ways to improve your online presence. When you have good SEO, you can rank high on Google search for specific keywords. These keywords will be specific to your services, based on what data shows your customers are searching for.
Becoming a master of SEO takes time, as there are a lot of components involved in it. The best way to ensure that your SEO is perfect is to hire someone who knows SEO frontward and backward, so you don’t have to worry about it.
6. Keep Track of Your Results
These are all good tips for increasing your online presence, but you should also keep in mind your growth as a company along the way. To do this, the most important first step is goal setting. You should always set goals. Think about what you want your brand to accomplish and how you can get there within the next few months or a few years. Set small goals and always work toward them.
When you set goals, it’s easier to track your results. Use software like Google Analytics to track your traffic, engagement, and more. Tracking your results can help you pinpoint what you may be doing wrong, allowing you to make changes along the way.
7. Have a Strong Brand Message
One of the key factors associated with small business success is your brand message. What does your brand stand for? For example, Site Social SEO’s values include diversity and equality. Having a brand message allows customers to connect to your brand through more than just your products. In this day and age, people are more interested in buying ethically, meaning they want to make purchases from people who share their values.
By having this brand message and story, you’ll grow your online presence, attracting more people who share those values with you.
8. Hire a Full-Service Online Marketing Firm
There are a ton of great resources out there for building your online presence, managing your website, and creating quality content, but sometimes it can be overwhelming to try and do everything on your own. By hiring a content marketing and SEO agency, you’ll be able to focus on your products and services while allowing Site Social SEO to manage your website and your marketing strategy.
For more information, please contact us online or at 407-712-0494.
