To achieve business success today, it’s vital to build and maintain a strong online presence. Companies that fail to get active and engage with their customers online often have a much harder time achieving their goals and getting the brand out there in front of as many potential customers as possible.
But, whilst the idea of a strong online presence may seem simple in theory, there are plenty of reasons why business owners might be putting off going fully digital. So, we’ve put together some top tips to help you get started with taking this important next step in your business.
Tip #1. Hire a Consultant
If this is your first time running a business and have little experience in digital marketing, then you may benefit from hiring a consultant to talk you through getting started with building up your online presence. Digital transformation consulting services are also useful for companies who are considering going fully digital for the first time, including switching over to cloud-based storage or work systems.
Tip #2. Utilise Social Media
When you run a business in today’s digital age, social media is the most useful tool that you have available. It’s never been easier to get as much exposure as possible in front of your target audience; all you need to do is set up a company profile on popular social networking sites and make sure that it’s regularly active and up-to-date. Don’t be afraid of engaging in conversation with your followers on social media; this is one of the best methods of getting to know your customers.
Tip #3. Have a Website
With more and more people finding the brands that they love on social media, is it really that important for your business to have a website if you have a popular Facebook account? The answer is yes. Today, customers don’t just hope that they’ll be able to visit your website, they expect it. Even if you’re not yet ready to sell products and/or services online, your business website should be central to your online presence.
Tip #4. Start Blogging
If you have a knack with words and plenty of industry-related knowledge to share with your audience, then you need to start a business blog. Having a blog attached to or associated with your business website will not only provide you with a platform for further engaging with your readers, it’ll also give you the chance to showcase your knowledge and establish your company as an online authority. Don’t forget about guest blogging, either – posting information on industry-related blogs is one of the best ways to increase your brand exposure and website traffic.
Tip #5. Encourage Customer Reviews
What’s the first thing that you do when you’re considering buying a product or paying for a service from a new brand? Chances are, you’ll Google the brand to see what people have been saying about it online. And, it’s likely that you customers are going to do the same when it comes to your business. So, be sure that you are registered in trustworthy directories, and on reliable third-party review sites that are relevant to your industry.
