With the majority of people being online and numbers only set to increase, your business can’t afford NOT to have an online presence in this day and age. In fact, staying visible and relevant to your customers is crucial to your success. That’s why building a strong online presence is a vital component to maintaining a competitive edge in business.
Establishing your company’s online presence is a long continuous process, but if you’re ready to take your small business online, here are a few mistakes to avoid.
1. Not Claiming Your Cyber Real Estate
We’ve said it once, and we’ll say it again louder for the people in the back… CLAIM. YOUR. BUSINESS. ONLINE.
Not only does it build trust, but it’s great for SEO (Search Engine Optimization), drawing in locals and tourists, and a huge potential revenue stream that you could be missing out on.
Think of your website and business platforms like Google, Yelp, Apple Maps, etc. like your online business address. If you want your business to be found, your address has to be visible and accessible on the internet.
2. Not Setting Up A Blog
Unlike a regular website that usually stays stagnant once it goes live, a blog is constantly being updated with new content. Which means it gives your business more opportunities to show up in search engines or shared on social media, months or even years after the blog post was originally posted, consequently driving more traffic to your site.
That means whether you’re a small mom-and-pop shop or a Fortune 500 company, blogging should be on the top of your priority list.
3. Not Choosing A Unique Handle Name
Unless you like to confuse your customers and visitors, or prefer people not to easily find you, we highly recommend choosing a unique handle name that is consistent with your URL and company name, and can be used across all your online channels and avoid confusion.
4. Not Engaging on Social Media
Think of social media as a two-way street for brands and consumers to interact. In order for your platforms to succeed, you must engage consumers. It’s very important to follow up with comments and create dialogue with your followers. Doing so often attracts more visitors to a post and improves your ranking on the social media site.
5. Not Optimizing Your Website
In order to boost your rank in search engines and drive people to your site, you must optimize your website. This is known as Search Engine Optimization, or SEO for short.
Building a strong website structure by helping search engines index your site quickly and easily is key given the substantial amount of traffic that’s driven by search engines to your website. That is perhaps the clearest indicator of the importance of SEO.
Establishing your online presence takes work, but addressing these tasks will ensure you increase your online visibility and grow your online presence organically.
Also don’t forget, DS&P is here to help you. Whether you want to use your social media more effectively, build your online presence, or improve brand loyalty, we’re your one-stop shop for all your digital marketing needs.
If you’re interested in getting started, but aren’t sure where to begin, you've come to the right place. Contact us below and we will discuss your options.
