As a business owner, it’s more important than ever to tap into the psyche of the millennials and generation Z. While text messaging was the latest and most forward-thinking method of communication just a few years ago, now it’s all about social media, messenger services, and Skype. Gone are the days of solely relying on cold calling and flyer drops to get your brand out there. Nowadays you need to get online and ensure your startup is visible in every corner of the Internet.
Your online presence can be the make or break of your business. This goes far beyond an incredible website with exceptional graphics. You need to ensure people know how to find your website and can reach out to you on the Internet when they want to communicate with you. Take a look at these three simple ways you can enhance your online presence.
Social Media
The most powerful marketing tool on the Internet is social media. The dawn of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram have given startups opportunities to attract new potential customers and clients through free marketing channels. If you haven’t done so already, you need to sign up and create a business Facebook page, a Twitter feed, and an Instagram board. Each of these social media channels brings something unique to your online marketing strategy. If you work in the arts, media or with visual media, Instagram is perfect to show off your services and products. These perfectly composed images can seduce potential purchasers and clients with their aspirational qualities. While you might not be keen on the fakeness of it all, you need to play the game. Remember, you are trying to appeal to young individuals who enjoy posting images of their avocado on toast and their cocktails on the beach.
Twitter and Facebook are a little more formal and professional in their approach but still give the same opportunities for conversion rate optimization. With high-quality referrals to your website from social media channels, you have a greater chance of securing sales.
Twitter, my favorite social media platform, allows you to provide short and concise links to your website and to your blog through limited characters. Appearing in people’s scrolling feeds means you can increase the opportunity for shares and followers. With Facebook, you are tapping the largest social media platform to develop your online presence. This gives your customers the chance to review your service or product so ensure you provide exceptional customer service to enhance your reputation online.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
The concept of search engine optimization is a bit of a mythical beast for many entrepreneurs. Working out the algorithms of Google can seem almost impossible. You may find yourself bidding on keywords in an attempt to find your website at the top of the Google rankings. Then you find your clicks are woefully low and you are wasting money on a weak online marketing campaign. Instead, consider employing the services of a professional. By outsourcing this business function, you can be much more confident of enhancing your online presence.
SEO professionals will work with you to formulate a digital strategy with an end goal. This could be to gain more followers, build your brand, or improve clicks to sales ratios. You’ll be updated every step of the way and you’ll be able to analyze the effectiveness of any campaign. In conjunction with an effort to update your social media feeds, you can enhance your online presence effectively.
Your Website
Even though you may be directing traffic to your website, this doesn’t mean you’ll convert these hits to sales. Your website needs to offer something more than the generic old website. It needs to be easy to navigate, simple to understand, full of relevant content and full of the information the customer needs.
Ensure your website represents your professional and personal brand. While it may be tempting to use a variety of swanky looking fonts, all the colors of the rainbow and a mish-mash of columns, you will end up with a confusing interface for your viewers. Instead, keep it simple with two or three colors and the same logo, slogan, and branding across every page. This should also be echoed across your social media channels and any other online platform that you may utilize.
Being an entrepreneur is tough. You may have the best idea, concept or product to hit your industry for decades. But if no one knows about it, your business will fail. Follow these steps to enhance your online presence and maximize business success.
Carolyn R. Owens has over 25 years of proven experience and serves as a Career Strategist, Leadership and Life Coach. She is the Chairwoman and CEO of Infinity Coaching, Inc. where they help you up-level your skills so you can up-level your income. Infinity Coaching, Inc. provides one-on-one and group coaching, organizational training, and personality assessments. Carolyn is certified to give both The Energy Leadership Index Assessment and Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Assessment. You can find out more about both assessments and other products and services athttps://infinitycoaching.net.
