Developing an online presence may seem like it is overwhelming or expensive. It doesn’t have to be, though. There are actually quite a few ways to increase your visibility online that are easy and… FREE!
Of course, not everything in life is free, but we will discuss 7 ways to build your online presence while being cost-effective.
Keep reading for more information.
Have a Page for People to Explore
The number one way to increase your presence online is going to be to have a website or a blog. There are plenty of ways to do this, both paid and free. It takes a bit of research, but each choice has their benefits.
Having a search engine optimized blog will allow people to look for terms and be directed to your site. They end up seeing that you have something they want and will continue returning for information and products.
Social Media is Important
Almost everyone you know has at least one social media account. This means your business should too!
People can tag themselves at your brick and mortar store, mention you in comments, and suggest your business to friends.
Social media is basically free marketing!
Become a Pillar of the Online Community
Using social media as free marketing is good. What’s better? Interacting with people, giving opinions without sounding like a salesperson, and offering advice.
People may see a comment once and not think much of it. If your business page is consistently offering solid advice and opinions, it WILL be noticed. You’ll become an assumed expert on whatever topic it is and people will look to you for industry direction.
Use the Pareto Principle
The Pareto Principle is the 80/20 rule. Simply put, share other people’s content 80% of the time and your own content 20% of the time.
This serves two purposes: you won’t have to spend as much time coming up with new content and people trust that your business is genuine. It shows that your company is not selfishly self-promoting.
Strategize Your Efforts
It is pointless to waste time and effort on search engines that offer little to nothing. Research which search engines you should focus on and work towards being ranked on their first page.
This is important because people don’t search past the first 5 pages of results. Sure, a few might, but this number drops off significantly.
Build a User-Friendly Page
This is one of those suggestions that may cost a little money. When building a webpage, you (as the owner,) knows what works for you.
What should be considered is what makes the page easy for customers. You may choose to involve someone with experience in this because people will quickly navigate away from a complicated page.
Many Visits Come From Mobile Devices
Having many mobile visitors means that a mobile-friendly site is an absolute must. People carry their devices everywhere and are constantly searching for businesses while on the go.
Social media will automatically adjust itself for mobile devices, but your store’s webpage and blog must available. People will quickly find another page that is mobile-friendly if yours isn’t.
Final Thoughts: Online Presence
Building an online presence may be relatively simple. Growing that presence and becoming an “expert” in your industry is entirely different.
Spending some time and possibly money on your website and blog pages will always be worth it in the end. If you need more ideas on how to see your traffic and online business increase, check out our blog!
