Living life in an increasingly digital age, your business’ online presence is one of the most important elements of success. If a Google search for your business turns up nothing but an outdated website and a smattering of bad reviews, your product is going to be a much harder sell — especially when you’re competing with other businesses with more effective online presences.
Your business needs to shine online, and you don’t need to work in IT or be a tech whiz to make this a reality. Here are a few easy ways you can improve your business’ online presence and visibility.
1. Create a High Quality Website
Having a website for your business is essential in increasing online visibility and driving sales. But you can’t boast just any old website, as your website needs to be well-designed, modern, and professional. This means that you need eye-catching and effective color schemes and images that grab and pull in the consumer as soon as they log on to your site. With that, you need an easy-to-use design, concise messaging, and engaging content. Mixed together, these ingredients create the recipe for a website that will lead the consumer to click “Buy Now” on your product.
2. Create a Custom App
Who doesn’t have either an iPhone or Android these days? An app will make your business easily accessible to the consumer, and the more accessible your business is, the more sales you’ll generate. Your app should be simple and easy to navigate, and your design should follow the same basic rules as those of your website: effective visuals and uncomplicated content. Building a custom app is not as difficult as it seems, and internet software along with a web database will help.
3. Be Familiar with Search Engine Optimization
Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, is the science behind using search engines to direct customers to your website. You want your business to be seen by search engines — the most relevant being Google — so that when a consumer searches for your product your business shows up in the search results. For example, if you’re a landscaping company and someone in your area searches “how to make a lawn prettier,” you want your business to pop up.
To do this, you want to focus on keywords, or words that relate to your company. You want a good mix of shorter keywords and longer phrases, all that are likely to be used by a consumer to find a business like yours — such as “lawn” for a landscaping company.
4. Run Paid Ad Campaigns
If you have a little extra money, paid ad campaigns are the way to go. These campaigns will display ads for your business on search engines or social media platforms, allowing your business to gain exposure and recognition; research shows that about 65% of consumers click on these ads when they’re looking to buy a product online. Plus, if these ads direct the consumer to a beautifully designed website, then you are almost guaranteed to make a sale.
5. Use Social Media
Having a social media account for your business is one of the most effective ways to generate online visibility. This can be a Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn account — or all four. To get the most out of a social media account, start by growing your follower base (made up of real-person followers and not fake accounts). Then begin sharing engaging and relatable content, using hashtags and other optimization techniques that will bring you likes and shares. Everyone has a social media account these days, and your business should be no different.
Improving your online visibility is an essential part of growing your business; in this day and age, an unestablished business is unlikely to survive without a strong online presence. So create a striking website, familiarize yourself with SEO, and take advantage of social media, and everyone will be talking about your business.
