8 ways to MAXIMIZE your online presence
In this day and age people and corporations alike have made the internet a second home. In fact, many business have forgone the old brick and mortar shop for a more flexible store-front, choosing to exist solely on the world wide web.
The ever-expanding user base of the internet gives us access to a global it can be easy to get lost in a sea of webpages, articles, and accounts. With all the webpages and social media profiels out there, it can be easy to get lost in a sea of ads, buzz words and bots.
so if you want to stand out from the crowd and capture the attention of potential fans, customers, and friends you'll need to do more than just list your name, skills, and contact information.
The following steps will help you stand out from the crowd and create lasting relationships with the people who are interested in you and your services.
1. COHESIVE BRANDING
You can't tell the world who you are unless you know for yourself. Branding works by bringing imagery and intent into harmony creating a vibe that represents the company. Logos, products, and content alike must create a strong message that attracts and keeps your target audience. Company sessions clarifying mission statement, desired perception, and target audience will help you create a launching pad for cohesive branding. Mood boards are also another great tool to help create a consistent look and feel for you or your company.
2. SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE
These days everyone and their dogs have Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. Avoid missing out by joining at least one of the big 3 listed above. If you can only handle managing one social media account, do your research and pick which one suits your needs best and will allow you to reach your deisred audience. The key to social media is keeping content current, having a sense of humor, and responding to your audience; afterall, it's called "social" media for a reason!
3. WEBSITE
Having a social media profile is an important first step to putting yourself on the map. Solidify your spot with a dedicated web page. Not only will it be a home base for the brand, but you can also use it to generate ad revenue and collect data about those who are interested in your services. Your website should be clean, functional and maintain brand integrity. Don't forget to link all of your social media back to your webpage, and vice-versa.
4. PROVIDE QUALITY CONTENT (AND POST IT REGULARLY)
In order to build brand reputation one must provide some sort of service to a potential customer. One way to be of value in your community is to create and post quality content on the regular. Articles, how-to videos and relevant reviews all lie in the realm of quality content. Quality content is useless if you're not releasing it on the regular, so make an editorial calendar, create, and schedule posts ahead of time if possible!
5. CREATE A BLOG
Once you have quality content, where do you put it? Twitter has a post limit, instagram is only pictures, and you don't want to link back to 2000 word facebook posts! This is where having a website comes in handy! Create a blog to host your original content, then use social media to share links to your blog content to the appropriate audiences. Having a collection of information relevant to your industry adds to your community value.
6. INTERACT WITH YOUR AUDIENCE
Communication is a two way street! Once you put your content out there, monitor your channels for customer questions and feedback, and respond appropriately.
71% of people who receive a quick, effective response are likely to recommend that brand to others, and when companies engage and respond to customer service requests over social media, those customers end up spending 20% to 40% more with the company
7. UTILIZE DATA
All of the social media platforms have various ways to track who is viewing and interacting with your content. Use these tools to identify your most popular posting habits in order to optimize your content and posting schedule.
8. DON’T BE AFRAID TO SPEND A LITTLE $$$
A little money goes a long way in the social media marketing game! Once you know your brand identity, target audience and optimum communication style, it’s time to start purchasing ad space. Keep them current and on brand, and it’s only a matter of time before you see them starting to work. If you’re having trouble completing any of prior steps, it may be worth it to hire a consultant to get you started, or to handle your social media from top to bottom depending on the needs of you and your company!
For help with branding, social media marketing, and other related services:
Written By:
Tia Watson