Why online visibility is essential for your business

It's not just about social media. Socials obviously play a big part in keeping up your presence, but there are other ways to keep your business visible and competitive. Listed below are some other marketing tools that you can easily implement in your business and marketing strategy that could make all the difference.

Website

A professional website is a must for any business. This is where you showcase who you are, what you offer, where you are, and how people can get in touch with you. Don't believe people who tell you that a Facebook page will do instead of a website - it's not true! There are some fab tools out there, such as WordPress, Go Daddy and Wix (and that's only a tiny drop in the ocean) that you can use to build a perfectly functional and smart website in a few hours. Alternatively, it doesn't have to cost a fortune to get a pro to do it for you. Do an hour of research and you'll find an option that's right for you.

Blog

A blog is a great way to improve your online visibility and build customer trust. Regardless of how often you publish a blog, if you have something to say and you're showing up on a regular basis, you will start to become the expert or go-to person in your field. If you're not so great with grammar, words aren't your thing, or you don't have time to write a blog yourself, consider outsourcing it. Blogs can be repurposed for social media posts and articles elsewhere, and can be used to drive traffic back to your website. 

"Remember that regular posting is important so that people learn to trust your brand."

 Email Marketing

Email marketing is a critical part of any business, in fact, 73%* of consumers state that email communication is their preferred channel. Email is not only universally accessible, but it can also be free and scalable as your business grows. By using platforms such as Mailchimp or Constant Contact (there are many available options), you can keep your customers and clients regularly informed of new products and services, special offers and any updates in your business. Again, if the thought of doing this fills you with dread (GDPR, anyone?), you can save yourself yet more time and outsource it to someone who is an email marketing whizz.

Social Media Accounts

If you're anything like me, you're finding increasingly that social channels are becoming noisy echo chambers of repetitive and sometimes nasty content. More people than ever are posting on social media, many of them 'armchair' experts on just about every subject. It's therefore easy to demonise it, or write it off as a waste of time.

Actually, social media can be a powerful business tool! Depending on which platforms you are using, regular posting could see your business benefit from increased online traffic and improved search engine rankings, and could help you engage with existing and potential customers. Ensuring that you have a presence on the top sites, namely Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and potentially TikTok, will prove invaluable to your business.

Remember that regular posting is important so that people learn to trust your brand - once you’re on your chosen platforms, be sure to engage with customer and follower comments and questions when they post them. This will confirm to people that your company is responsive and credible.

If you would like to have a further discussion about any of these topics, or if the time is right for you to think about outsourcing your marketing, please do contact me - I'll be pleased to help.

*Source: Data and Marketing Association