Starting a new business comes with a million different tasks that can be daunting for any new business owner. To add to that never-ending list, with the ever-evolving world of technology, business owners now need to build an effective online presence to even be considered "relevant."
That being said, as intimidating as it sounds, creating an online presence can be a very smooth and enjoyable process once you know what your goals are and develop a clear strategy.
Step 1: What are your goals?
Take a pen and paper, old-school style, and write down exactly what you're trying to achieve, what are your goals? Are you trying to gain followers, promote services, or generate sales? This is the very first step to creating an effective online presence. Laying out your goals will help you create a strategy that will guide your online journey.
Once you have your big picture goals, start to break them down into itemized lists. This will allow your goals to become attainable by assigning actionable steps to each one. As you check off each item from your list, it will give you the boost of confidence to keep going.
Step 2: Set Up Your Website
The website will be the center of your business. When someone hears about your business, their first instant reaction will be to Google your company in order to find your website with more information. Even if you don't have an on-going need for a website, just setting up a simple one with your services, contact, and about information will allow customers to look you up at any given time and contact you through the appropriate channel. Another aspect to keep in mind is to make sure that your website is mobile-friendly. Since everyone is glued to their phones, that is most likely the device they will use to look you up.
Of course, in order to show up higher in search engines, you have to develop an SEO strategy to target certain keywords that potential customers will be typing in to look you up.
Step 3: Social Media
The very first thing business owners need to be aware of is that not every social media platform is right for your business. You have to analyze who your target audience is. If your audience is mostly millennials, then your business may benefit from only living on Instagram. It all depends on who your audience is and what platform they are mostly likely to use. Although this may sound like a long process, a few quick Google searches and some research can easily point you in the right direction.
Remember, an inactive social media account will only create a negative image for your business. So, make your decisions wisely and don't bite more than you can chew. The biggest key to being successful on social media is by being consistent!
With building an online presence, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. It all depends on the specific needs of your business. You have to sit down and analyze your goals and what it is that you are really trying to achieve. All this, by no means, is an overnight process. It takes days of planning and strategizing. But that being said, if you take your time understanding and planning each step, the whole process will just become easier and more enjoyable for you.
If building an online presence seems like a task you're not ready to take on just yet, contact us today and let us take care of that for you, while you focus on what matters the most - your business.