3 Tips to Boost Your Online Presence for More Business

Likely you know this, but it bears repeating: To succeed as an entrepreneur today, it’s critical that you establish a strong presence online. 

Whether you have a brick-and-mortar location or your business exists entirely online, the success of your business depends on your online presence. Here are a few tips and tools to help raise awareness about your brand.
1. Blog Regularly — One of the quickest and most popular ways to build your online presence and establish your expertise is to write about your experiences. When you write articles or blog entries about your experience, you are in essence giving others a window into your thoughts and a map so that they can, in turn, empower themselves.

Think back on what it was like for you when you were just starting out. How many people helped you out, whether personally or through the information they gave you?

Now that you’ve done it, shine a light for others to follow. One way is to make a list of all the challenges you faced or things that you know now that you didn’t know then and write about it. That’s the kind of content that others will value. That’s the kind of kind of expertise that international entrepreneur and creator of Autocats Inc. Scott Vollero used when he wrote an article for would-be entrepreneurs to think about before they start their business.

2. Make Effective Use of SEO — Often the first place that potential customers will turn when they have a question or a problem to solve is to check a search engine. You want them to be able to find your answer as quickly and easily as possible.

Check your company website and make sure that you are making the most of SEO by using keywords, tags, and other tools to boost your rankings.

Also be sure to use keywords and tags in your blog posts and link to relevant products or earlier blog posts. That way, when they search for you, your information will be near the top. 

3. Use Social Media Like a Pro — It looks like social media is here to stay, so you better make sure you use it appropriately. As an entrepreneur, you want to make the most of it. You can grow your online influence quickly through social media by being on the following sites.

    Facebook —You can create a Facebook page or store for your business and increase awareness of your brand through Facebook advertising. You can also link to your blog posts or to guest posts you have written to keep your customers aware of your business. Customers can also contact you on the site for customer support requests.

    YouTube —You can boost your brand through informational and how-to videos. You can also show off the features of your latest product and include links where your customers can reach you. This is one of the most powerful forms of advertising available online.

    Twitter — Even though there is a character limit, just a couple of Tweets a day can keep you in the minds of your followers. It’s also another avenue for customers to reach you with questions, comments or feedback.

    LinkedIn— This is the top choice of entrepreneurs and business leaders in all areas to connect with each other. Having a detailed LinkedIn profile will let professionals customers know about you and your company. Friends and business colleagues can also give testimonials about your skills and what you have to offer.

    Pinterest – Next to a search engine, Pinterest is one of the top sites you need to be utilizing to reach potential customers. Many Pinterest users are looking for quick links to ideas, and a picture is worth a thousand words. If you’ve written content such as a blog post or made a video and posted it online, Pinterest is a way to reach customers and build up your reputation by driving even more traffic to your website.

These are online presence fundamentals. Have you checked them lately? The landscape is constantly evolving. Run through your blog, search engine placement, and social media sites to see if you’re getting the attention your expertise deserves.