How to Create a Successful Online Business Presence

An online presence is a very important key component to running a successful business regardless of what your business sells, who your clients are or what your target market is.  Even if many of your transaction are done face-to-face, an online presence is still a must.  So what elements do you need to create such a presence?

First off, get a domain name for your business.  Having a domain name for your business is like having a phone number for the web.  It’s important to have a platform that will link all your social media accounts, YouTube videos, blog posts, etc.  

Next, get an email address with your domain.  Having a professional email address means that you are serious about your business and your brand.  “It also gives a level of confidence to customers that the email address has a direct relationship to your business.”  Professional email addresses give a better first impression that merely having a domain @google .com or @yahoo.com.

The next step to having a strong online presence is by having a professional website.  Your website should look sleek, modern, succinct, easy to navigate, official, professional and established.  There are many companies out there (some less pricey than others) that can set up a stellar website for your business.  That said, one of the most common mistakes business owners make is going for the cheapest available setup and design.  You don’t have to go over the top if you’re just starting out but putting time and money into your website will pay off in the long-run. “Your website is a reflection of your business and a powerful marketing medium so it is important to get it done professionally.”

Optimize for search engines.  Now that you have a website the most logical next step is to promote and optimize it for search engines so that your website can be found easily.  In this digital age, most people turn to search engines to find businesses and services in their area.  “Search engines are considered one of the most powerful distribution channels and the most effective way to drive traffic to your website.”

Add your business to online directories.  This helps you reach your target audience in local areas as well gather leads on new customers.  Try adding your business to “Google Business Center.”  Google is one of the top 10 websites in the world and gets millions of unique visitors every day.  Adding your business to Google Business Center ensures that your business will appear in Google search results and Google maps as well so your business can be easily located by consumers.

Use social media as much as possible.  Get on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn and YouTube.  It is often wise to start a blog as well.  Stick to a handful of sites.  Try pouring your heart and soul into a few select sites; don’t waste time on lesser used networks.  Make sure you are tweeting and posting to Facebook regularly throughout the day so you keep your customer base informed of your products and services at all times.

Embrace photography.  Photos tend to stand out far more than status updates or links.  “They are clear and concise and easily taken in by social media users.”  You can make use of pictures in practically any industry simply by showing photos of the products and services you are offering.  “It is a known fact that profiles with photos generate more engagement than those that only have written updates.”

Think about offering giveaways and freebies.  This is a strong way to engage your customers and win repeat business.  It also allows for word of mouth.  Try to get your target audience involved in some sort of competition or prize draw.  This is a savvy way to build up your email list as well.  Giving away something small can mean big returns down the line.

Probably the most important piece of advice I can give you today is to make it easy for your customers to pay.  It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to realize that you want it to be easy for people to give you their money.  Customers should be able to pay for goods with a few simple clicks.  Try not to have timers to complete their purchases.  Let them set their own pace so you don’t scare them away.  Additionally, offer as many payment methods as possible.  PayPal is an effective tool as well as accepting a host of different credit and debit cards.

I’ll leave you with one last thought: Why should you take advantage of an online presence?  Often it’s cheap and free, you can succeed with limited knowledge and most importantly, everyone’s doing it!

Here are some articles you might want to check out about how to create an online business presence:

 “Building an Online Presence for Your Business”: http://www.examiner.com/article/building-an-online-presence-tools-tips-and-tricks

“4 Elements of a Successful Business Web Presence”: http://mashable.com/2010/02/10/business-web-presence/

“7 Essential Stages of Building an Online Presence”: http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/blog/2012/08/07/7-essential-stages-of-building-a-total-online-presence/

“How to Create a Total Online Presence When You Really Don’t Have the Time”: http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/blog/2012/06/14/how-to-create-a-total-online-presence-when-you-really-dont-have-the-time/

Until next time…