Small Business, Big Online Presence: 5 Simple Hacks For Online Success
Having an online presence is non-negotiable these days. The fact that 86% of people rely on the internet to find a business is reason enough to strive for online success.
This is no time to be stuck in the dark ages. As daunting as it may be to get set up online, the internet plays a critical role in generating leads, boosting sales, and building a strong reputation – everything a small business needs to survive.
It’s one thing to have a business website, but it’s quite another to make it successful. With plenty of healthy competition out there, building a successful online presence requires patience and perseverance. But the rewards make it all worth it.
Not an expert in SEO? That’s ok!
We’ve put these five simple strategies together to make online success easy to come by.
Invest in a robust website
It all starts with a website. A good one. Your website is one of the first places people will go to learn about your business. For that reason, it should be a priority.
There is simply no substitute for a well-designed website. If it’s eye-catching, easy to navigate, and holds all the information your audience may be looking for, your website will instantly boost your business’ credibility.
While it’s tempting to create a website yourself, it’s best to leave this one to the professionals. Don’t worry, you’ll get a great return on your investment as your website reaches new customers, generates leads, and builds your brand reputation.
Register with local business directories
Local SEO wouldn’t be complete without online business directories. In the early days of SEO, online directories were the go-to for digital marketers. While they aren’t quite as big a deal as they once were (SEO has become a little more complex over the years) directories are still an essential piece of the puzzle.
Business directories are a great way to spread your business information across multiple platforms and enhance your online visibility. Provided your information is up-to-date and accurate, online directories help to validate your existing content and boost your reputation with major search engines.
Want that glistening spot on the first page of Google? Business directories will help you get there. For most directory sites, registration is free. Some sites may charge a small fee to create a featured listing.
Where to start? Begin registering on the top online business directories in your region!
Get active on social media
Being present online means being active online. Social media platforms are an effective way to stay relevant, engage with customers, track competitors, and increase brand awareness.
Social media adds a human side to your business, building relationships and trust among your audience. It’s also highly targeted and boasts intricate analytical tools that help you measure the success of your activity.
There are more than three billion social media users around the world. With numbers like this and a worldwide reach, social media is a great way to build an audience and develop a strong online presence.
Create frequent, useful content
High-quality content is one of the best strategies for growing an online presence. Google aims to provide useful and relevant results. If you want your content to have any value at all, it needs to be beneficial to those searching.
Simply put, you won’t rank well without great content.
Useful, credible, engaging content will optimise your online presence potential. Why? Because website engagement impacts search rankings. The longer people stay on your website, the more successful your online presence will be.
But there’s a technical side to content that can’t go unnoticed.
- Use a credible keyword research tool (like ahrefs!) and match your topic to your keyword.
- Use key phrases rather than single words.
- Keep paragraphs short and easy to read.
- Link to other relevant, credible, and trustworthy sites.
Be competitive and keep improving
There are over 547,000 websites created every day. The internet is bursting at the seams with people trying to do what you’re doing. For that reason, you need a good competitive streak to boost and maintain a strong online presence.
Keep an eye on your competitor’s strategies to stay one step ahead. If they’re offering a promotion, consider doing the same. If they’re producing more content or posting on social media more often than you, it’s time to up your game.
The beauty of being online is that you can measure your success through a number of analytical tools. Be sure to check these regularly to see where there’s room for improvement. In the online world, there is always more you could be doing.
In conclusion, to have a good online presence means you’re visible on several search platforms. As businesses and consumers are now switching their focus online, it’s critical to move with the times. Start with a great website and work towards boosting your online presence with business directories, social media, quality content, and some good old-fashioned competitiveness!
