The need for businesses of all sizes to have an online presence is a given nowadays.
However, the wrong online presence can be more damaging than not having one at all. If you are seeking ways to stand out from your competitors for all the right reasons, then your business needs to take its website seriously. Just as a poorly designed, unprofessional website can damage a business’ reputation, an engaging website can enhance its reputation.
Research shows that many customers seek out online reviews as their main way of making decisions about their purchases. Potential customers are also likely to search online when planning to make a purchase. The decision to buy from you or your competitors is likely to be down to the experience they have using your website.
Consistent
Consistency is a crucial element in building your business, and in particular, in cementing the connection between your physical business, and its presence online.
Keeping your website consistent with your brand should always be a priority. A website which is inconsistent with a company’s branding can lead to customer confusion, and give an impression of a business that’s not sure what it is.
Using consistent branding, both online and offline, will help to build brand recognition and strengthen it.
Optimised
Search engine optimisation (SEO) is something that leaves many people confused. You may have heard conflicting advice on how to optimise your website and may be worried that your efforts could do more harm than good. As a business owner, you may have a grasp of the basics of SEO, but to achieve the best results, it is best to look at seo packages from professional agencies. Using an agency can provide you with many advantages over your competitors, such as improved rankings and more traffic to your website.
Engaging
Of course, your online presence is not the sole responsibility of your website; your social media platforms are crucial too.
Social media has many uses for businesses, from enabling companies to communicate with their customers, through to sharing content which drives traffic to your website. When used correctly, social media is a powerful tool. It can help to expose your products to a wider audience. Social media can also direct customers to your site.
Social media does need to be approached with caution though. Despite having many benefits, social media can be damaging to a company’s reputation. It is vital to think carefully before posting on social media so that you don’t go viral for all the wrong reasons.
Take care not to share anything that could be deemed to be offensive, what one person finds amusing someone else may find offensive.
Ensure that your posts use the same tone of voice as your website, and reflect the personality of your brand. Keeping your posts consistent will help to build your brand recognition.
Remember that your social media posts should serve a purpose, for example, sharing informative content that you know your followers will respond to well.
