According to Internet World Statistics, there are 5,168,780,607 estimated internet users as of March 2021. This figure accounts for 65.6% of the total world population. True to what Bill Gates said that “the internet is becoming the town square for the global village of tomorrow,” the internet has made it easier for all of us to be connected. 

Since almost everyone is now connected online, businesses have leveraged the power of online presence to boost their marketing.  Why would they not- online presence can be more affordable than traditional marketing yet more effective. With the right strategies, organizations can use their strong online presence as their key to success.

What online presence means

Online presence is different from online existence. You may exist online through your site or social media but may not be felt by your target audience. Online presence means that your business has visibility, credibility, and reputation in the world of cyberspace. This denotes that people should be able to quickly get to know your company as you are very searchable. Your audience should also perceive you as a good business and is willing to engage with you because of your different content and activities.

Here are some approaches that you can take to improve your company’s online presence.

Create your website

Having a website is an essential step to be felt in the online world as it is equivalent to your digital address. Your website is the first tool for people to know your brand. Some may even judge your company by your website- 56% of consumers won’t consider a business without a website. In addition, 75% of consumers admitted to assessing the company’s credibility based on their website.

Because company websites are this powerful, you have to ensure that your site is attractive, user-friendly, and easy to navigate. It should also load fast because speed matters. The feel, colors, images, and manner of communicating should match your brand too. The site should also be compatible with any device it’s viewed on, whether through a laptop, tablet, or mobile phone. Unless you are a website expert, consider partnering with an affordable web design company to build your perfect website.

Master Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

SEO is an effective way to boost your online presence because it helps you appear and be on top of search results like Google and Bing. Earning the top spot in search engines is crucial as most people tend to only look at the first few pages of the search results. Having a good place in search results will guarantee traffic to your site.

Best SEO practices include creating quality and keyword-targeted content, optimizing images, and building links. 

Maximize web directories

You can also take advantage of web directories to up your online presence. With your visibility on web directories, people can access information about you even if they do not go to your website. Ensure that you provide your business name, address, contact number, operating hours, photos, or videos of your location, services, and products. If you get reviews or comments and questions, respond immediately.

Create buzz

Be creative in making your presence known by creating virtual events. Through virtual events, you get a wide reach and can help introduce your business to more people. By organizing an online event, you can engage potential customers, existing customers, and shareholders. Engaging virtual events will keep the stakeholders in the loop too on how the business is doing and give them a glimpse of what to improve.

Analyze your marketing results

A common belief among business leaders is “what you can’t measure, you can’t improve.” Once you start building your online presence, you should also begin to analyze your numbers. Decide what metrics you want to use and track the results of your different marketing strategies. If you’re in a very competitive and fast-paced industry, analyzing your marketing results can make or break your business. Tracking marketing efforts in real estate and across industries requires tools for growth. 

Once you get to study your numbers, take the appropriate action. What efforts are effective, and what should be stopped? Are there any tools, activities, or strategies you can explore to make your online presence better? 

Use social media

Utilize LinkedIn and other social media channels too. Tapping social media to increase online presence is valuable since there are 4.8 billion social media users worldwide, equating to 57% of the total global population. To add, research by Sprout Social revealed that after following a brand on social media, 91% of consumers would visit the company website, 89% will buy their product, and 85% will recommend the brand to their family or friends.

To successfully utilize social media, first, you have to choose the right social media platform. You might want to research your audience and social media preferences. Then, build your guide or protocols for social media posting and replies. Assign someone who will post, reply, and manage your social media accounts too.

Create an email list

Email marketing is another straightforward yet efficient way to build and boost your online presence. Create an email list by letting your content readers sign up to receive emails. You can also use your company website or social media page to promote your email newsletter. Having an email list gives you leads who are not only interested in your content but can also be potential customers.

Key Takeaway

A business needs to have a strong online presence. With the many things going on in the online world, making your company visible, credible, and with a good reputation will give you an edge over your competitors. 

 

Guest post by Arleen Ateinza at Tech. Dev. Business.