You only have to spend a few minutes online to know that, as consumers, there is simply no end to the number of businesses vying for our attention. It is easy to see why standing out online is such a challenge for so many businesses, even for those who have been established for years.
For start-up businesses, it can be challenging to know where to begin when trying to reach customers who are becoming more and more desensitised to digital marketing tactics. Often the key is to start with the basics, be experimental, and focus on what works. Here are 7 ways to maximise your business’ online visibility.
- Create valuable content
Blog posts on your website are your opportunity to show your expertise and brand, as well as to rank for relevant keywords in search engines like Google. Whether you create articles, blogs, videos, infographics, or other types of content, it should have a unique value. This increases the likelihood that the content will attract engagement, shares, and backlinks (which will boost your SEO performance).
It is not always feasible to come up with something completely original every time, but you can always take something which has been published elsewhere and add your own opinions or a new spin on the topic. If you do this, be sure to rewrite the content and/or cite your sources to ensure you do not get into trouble for plagiarism.
- Collect reviews
Customer reviews are incredibly powerful when it comes to building a reputation and increasing brand awareness. When deciding whether to buy from you, a customer will want to know that others have had positive experiences and, where errors have occurred, that you have tried to make amends. Make sure that your customer service process includes requesting that customers leave ratings and/or reviews either on your website or a third-party review site.
- Run webinars
If you have knowledge and expertise which could benefit your customers or your industry, consider running webinar classes on those topics. You could ask your existing audience what they would like you to speak about. Try to include a call-to-action at the end of the webinar, such as visiting your website or subscribing to receive marketing emails from you.
- Advertise in the right places
Online advertising can be a low-cost way to reach your target customers, either by advertising in search engines with PPC (pay-per-click) or by placing adverts on other relevant websites. Online advertising can be a bit of a minefield if you do not understand how to target your audience or set your budgets, so it might be worth contacting a PPC agency Manchester such as Made by Factory to help you create the best possible campaign.
- Get active on social media
It is not enough to create a social media profile you need to be actively listening to and engaging with your audience. This means asking and answering questions, posting new and interactive content regularly, and sharing relevant content posted by others. This will not only increase your visibility on the social media platform itself but can also boost your search rankings.
- Use the right keywords
Google can interpret the words a user types into the search bar and understand the intent behind the search. Your website (including meta descriptions and page titles), its content, and social media posts must be influenced by your target keywords and phrases.
- Acquire quality backlinks
A backlink is a link from another website that directs users to your site. These links can be hugely beneficial to your SEO performance, particularly if the link comes from a website which Google views as high quality and trustworthy.
