Over the last 30 or so years, the internet has completely transformed modern commerce and helped firms of all sizes reach out and connect with a global marketplace. Taken in conjunction with the stratospheric rise in the popularity and ubiquity of popular social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, there is now a vast range of ways modern firms can build an audience and expand into previously untapped markets.
However, building an online presence that truly encapsulates the spirit of a company and projects a successful and engaging image takes time and effort. Whether you’re starting from scratch with your company’s online profile or just feel it could do with a revamp, below are some top tips that will help you engage your clients (both new and existing) and help your company grow through web-based tech.
Ground zero – build a professional website
Today, it’s estimated around 70% of all consumer journeys start with an online search. Consequently, if your firm doesn’t have a website – or has a site that looks unprofessional – you’ll likely be missing out on a huge range of commercial opportunities and be overlooked in favor of your rivals.
These days, it’s easier and more affordable than ever to get a business website, so there are no excuses not to have your firm online. Options range from the cheapest DIY website builders like Wix right up to professionally-designed sites made by web development companies. Note – while your budget will almost always be a deciding factor in which route you choose (particularly if you’re just starting out), it’s worth remembering your site will likely be the first point of contact for potential and existing clients – so you should think carefully about the image it projects.
Modern coding techniques and tech have seen website production fees come tumbling in recent years, so you would be well-advised to partner with a professional development firm if you want to achieve the best results. Companies like this agency could produce your site to a far higher standard (and in considerably less time) than you will likely be able to do on your own.
Get social
While many company execs view social media almost as an optional extra, in truth, engaging on the most popular social platforms can bring you valuable extra custom and help promote your company in ways that simply aren’t achievable by any other medium. By building a strong social presence, you’ll be able to reach your clients and unobtrusively project your message.
At a minimum, you should have pages on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Depending on how much video content you have, getting onto YouTube can also be highly advantageous (YT is the world’s second-biggest search engine behind sister company, Google – both owned by parent firm, Alphabet). However, while being on the bigger players should almost be a pre-requisite, don’t forget the potential that the smaller social platforms might bring to your particular company. For example, if you run a company specializing in female-oriented goods or services, Pinterest’s 77% female user demographic may well be your best bet.
Don’t overlook the potential of SEO
As mentioned above, around 70% of all consumer journeys these days start with a search – typically on Google. No matter how good your company’s website is, if it’s not ranked high in search engines, you will lose out. Investing in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) – an involved practice that helps push websites higher in Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs) – should be top of your marketing list.