Introduction
In this new era of advanced technology and AI, the quote “out of mind, out of sight” has never been truer. This is particularly true when running a business today. If you’re not visible on the World Wide Web, then you might as well not exist.
As a business owner, visibility is not a “maybe”–it is a must, if you want your business to grow and generate sales. In fact, 97% of consumers would conduct research on a company before patronizing them.
When your business lacks an online presence, you limit your reach and miss out on potential customers.As a result, you end up losing more than you gain.
However, the good news is that this post will highlight simple and free ways to build a strong online presence for your business.
But first let’s define what an online presence really means.
WHAT IS AN ONLINE PRESENCE?
Your online presence is how your business is represented online. Through this, you’re able to craft a narrative that would resonate with your audience. This presents your business as trustworthy and legitimate.
Without an online presence for your business, your audience wouldn’t have anything to relate to or engage with– this is a huge red flag. The truth is, no one wants to spend money on a business they deem untrustworthy.
A strong online presence for your business communicates to your target audience that you’re legit and credible. This is a very important step to succeeding as a business owner.
Unfortunately, many business owners overthink the process and get frustrated trying to build one.
But don’t worry, this blog highlights four easy ways to help you establish a strong online presence for your business.
Let’s get started!
Define your Brand Identity
Imagine you attend a trade fair or exhibition and you set up your stand among 50 other businesses.
Out of the businesses present, there are at least eight others that are selling the same thing as you or offering the same services.
Without saying a word, how would your customers recognize your business? More importantly, how do you immediately stand out from the rest?
The answer is BRANDING!
Branding is your business’s unique identity. It is through effective branding that you’re able to set yourself apart from countless competitors.
For branding to be effective, you need:
- Visual Identity: Logo, Color, Typography
- Messaging and Voice: Tone, Storytelling
- Value and Personality: Mission Statement, Tagline, Vision
There must be consistency in these things. Don’t confuse your audience by presenting yourself as one thing and another thing the next day. This comes off as unserious and lackadaisical. No one would take your business seriously which means zero sales.
Back to the trade fair example.
If your stand is decorated with your brand colors, and logo and have your tagline properly displayed, your customers would easily spot you.
Think about it: No one needs to show you a Coca-Cola or Pepsi stand before you know it’s theirs.
When building an online presence, branding is the first essential step. This should reflect in everything from your website, social media pages, and marketing strategy.
Now that we understand the importance of branding, let’s explore the next crucial step.
Create a Professional Website
If your business doesn’t have a website, then you might as well not exist in the minds of your target audience.
According to DataReportal, there are at least 5 billion active internet users and that number is set to double annually. So, if you’re not where your audience is, then you’re essentially missing out on a great deal of potential customers.
As a business owner, a website is your business’s digital storefront and the foundation of your online presence. This is one of your customers’ touchpoints.
Through this,your customers are able to find out every key information they need to know about your business. From your services or product, policies, and how to reach you etc.
Ultimately, this could potentially be your audiences’ first impression of your business. You know what they say about that, they tend to stick.
So, if your website looks unprofessional, it becomes a huge turn-off to your customers. You wouldn’t look trustworthy to them and so, they won’t want to engage with your business.
Professional website must-haves include:
- Home Page
- About Page
- Services or Product Page
- Contact Page
- Blog Page (for SEO)
A well-designed website establishes credibility, attracts visitors, and ultimately converts them to customers.
If you’re struggling with building a website for your business, click here.
Have a Social Media Presence
More than half of the entire world’s population uses social media for at least three hours per day. There are different reasons why people use social media. For research, for business, for building connections, etc.
It has become the go-to place for businesses to present themselves and engage with their target audience. These platforms include Twitter now X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Youtube, Threads, Tiktok, etc.
However, not all platforms may be right for your business. Your choice should depend on where your target audience is most active.
Social media is another important customer touchpoint. So, you must maintain branding consistency on your social media pages. From colors, logo, font, and layout. This is instrumental in portraying your business as credible and professional.
Having a good social media presence is important for engaging and connecting with your target audience. But remember—don’t use social media solely for selling. That can be a major turn-off for your audience.
Instead, create a well-rounded content strategy that aligns with your business goals and helps you grow your brand.
A well-intended strategy helps you attract, engage, and convert followers into loyal customers.
Beyond social media, another powerful tool to enhance your online presence is Local SEO.
Invest Local SEO
SEO(Search Engine Optimization) is what helps businesses rank well on Google. When you search for anything on Google, there are at least 20 pages of results.
The truth is, no one has the time or energy to go beyond the first 2 or 3 pages (and that’s a maybe). If you don’t appear on these pages, the chances of you getting found on the internet reduces.
For businesses, Local SEO is one way to build a strong online presence and attract customers who are actively searching for products or services near them.
For Context, Local SEO is the process of optimizing your online presence to attract local audiences. Take for instance, if someone searches for salons near me, pet stores in x location, etc.
You have a higher chance of ranking high on the search engine results page.
The beauty about Local SEO is that the customers it attracts have a higher purchase intent (i.e. they’re ready to make a purchase.
This is how you make Local SEO work for your business:
- Optimize your Google My Business Profile.
- Use Local Keywords for your Website.
- Make sure to get customer reviews and ratings.
- Optimize for Voice and Mobile Search.
- Get listed on Online Directories.
Conclusion: Importance of an Online Presence for Businesses
The process of building a strong online presence for your business is a marathon, not a sprint. It requires consistency, patience, and strategy. For your business to thrive and grow in the world of today, you need to have a strong presence online that would speak for you.
Yes, It can feel overwhelming at times (especially with no professional help). But by taking these steps one at a time, staying curious, and not letting failures get to you would help you in the long run.
Partner with Us to build an online presence that sets your business apart!
As you have read earlier, doing it without professional help can be long, tedious, and overwhelming. However, it doesn’t have to be like that. With the right help, this can be done fast and easily with astonishing results for your brand.
At Cnergii, we bring a wealth of experience and expertise, guaranteed to help you and your business shine and stand out. This would allow you to smash your competitors and hit your business goals.
So why wait? Contact us today and let’s work together to grow your business.
