It is estimated that around 38% of customers will stop interacting with a business if they think its website is poorly designed. When you are starting a new business, this custom is vital to your survival. So how do you avoid falling into this and other traps?
There are seven essentials you must follow to build your digital brand and have success. Read on as we discuss how to build your online presence.
1. Knowledge of SEO
Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of optimizing a website so that it gains more organic website traffic from search engines. It is a vast field that is constantly evolving and shifting. Yet a little bit of research and knowledge can help you out immensely.
This is because SEO is not something that should be done and then forgotten about. It should be embedded in everything you do. Even if you give your SEO to a third party to conduct, knowing the basics can help when you craft everything from social media posts to website updates.
Luckily, you don’t need to go away and do a degree. There are numerous free articles and resources online that can help you get to grips with it.
2. An Optimized Website
There is no point in spending time increasing online traffic if you have not optimized your website. People need to arrive, be able to find the information they need, and turn it into a conversion. Without optimization, they will lose their direction and go elsewhere.
Make sure it loads quickly. Many people will leave if it does not load within the first three seconds. You must also ensure that it is optimized for use on a mobile device.
After this, the design should employ a rule of three clicks. Any information should be able to be found or purchased within no more than three mouse clicks. This ensures purchases and conversions are smooth and fluid.
3. An Email List
The email list lost its power for a short while as inboxes were flooded with spam. Now that the storage of personal data is more closely monitored, it has regained its power as a form of communication. This is down to the fact that anyone on your list has opted in and wants to hear news from you.
There are several ways you can build an email list. Add a plugin to your website that will allow people to sign up for it. You may also entice them by offering free content if they do in the form of ebooks or sales discounts.
One tip with your email list is to use it wisely. Only send an email out that has valuable content on it. A monthly newsletter is a good way to do this.
4. One Social Media Presence
The concept of having one social media presence may make many online marketers spit coffee over their keyboards. Yet for a new business, it makes much more sense.
Concentrating on one social media outlet lets you master it. You can spend time working out what content works best, how its advertising methods operate, and if it has the right demographic for you.
Each social media channel has its advantages, disadvantages, and rules that take time to master. It is no coincidence that so many companies offer social media services. If you are a new business you need to concentrate on growing the company and building leads while operating more than one social media channel can quickly become a full-time job in itself.
5. Activity
One often-overlooked factor when it comes to increasing site traffic is that you need to be active online. This may involve having customer service representatives always waiting in a chat window, or taking time to rely and post on social media. Once people know they are dealing with real people and staff, it will foster a much stronger relationship.
All of this does take time. Make sure you set aside an allocation every day or week to do it. As you grow you may have to designate staff to specific tasks.
6. Valuable Content
The digital marketing adage states that content is king and this is still true. Quality, valuable content will drive online traffic back to your website. It will then be shared, sending back more and establishing your brand as an expert in its field.
Making the content is the tricky part. Conduct keyword research and see what questions and queries people are searching for online. You can even go directly to your customers and ask them.
You should then decide on the type of content that is best for you. At its basic level, blog posts are easily written and can bring a lot of traffic with the right keywords. Handy how-to guides or lists are always successful formats.
Blogs are the tip of the iceberg. Podcasts, videos, and quizzes are a few other methods you may employ.
7. Networking
Networking is a great way to increase site visits by utilizing someone else’s audience. Choose people that are in related niches and message them to see how you can work together. For example, if you are a cosmetics brand you may message fashion brands or nail art studios.
Once communication is established you can begin to collaborate. You may hold competitions together to promote each other’s products. The most common method of this is the use of an influencer who will promote your brand on their social media channels.
Improving Your Online Presence
Now that you know these tips for improving your online presence, create a schedule to introduce them. Some can be done right away, whereas others may take time. If you need to allocate the jobs to other staff members then decide who will take them on.
The first step when increasing your online presence should be ContentManager.io. We provide blog content guaranteed to increase traffic to your website. Contact us here and discuss your options.
