How to set up your Business Online Presence

 Set up your Digital Presence

If one thing we learned about small businesses in 2020 is that nothing is set in stone. We've seen business models disrupted, customer habits and behavior changed, and businesses transformed. Many of these changes involved the adoption of new technologies and the adoption of digital strategies.

Now, let's explore how digital strategies can help you build a strong online presence, reach more potential customers, build relationships with your existing customer base, and build brand awareness for your entire company. Because consumer behavior has changed, you're going to have to meet them where they are: online.

Most shoppers are likely to choose businesses that have a full online service

Surveys conducted by Software Advice* show that consumers already have online shopping channels and will retain those shopping preferences after COVID:

• 67% of shoppers report that they are more likely to choose a "full online service" provider.
• When asked about their preferred mix between online channels and in-person interaction, 35 percent of shoppers prefer to "mostly interact through online channels" in the post-COVID-19 world.
• 94% report that their overall experience of online interactions with service providers has met or exceeded their expectations.

Consumers are buying online, but not necessarily waiting for their purchases. CouponFollow's survey shows that while 74 percent of online shoppers surveyed opted for delivery, 55 percent chose to pick up on the sidelines, and 48 percent chose to buy online and pick up in-store.

In fact, EMarketer says there’s been a surge of what they call click-and-collect, which is a buy online and pick up curbside system. Click-and-collect e-commerce sales are expected to reach $58.5 billion by the end of 2020, an increase of 60.4 percent.

This change in consumer behavior is not confined to retail sales. No matter what they're looking for, consumers are going to the internet to find it.

How to set up an online presence

So, if consumers spend money online, how can your small business get the most out of it? You need to create a strong online presence. There are a couple of ways you can do that.

Construct a professional website

For every company, websites are essential. It is relatively easy to build yourself or outsource a professional if you do not have a website. A domain name is required, but you may take your favorite name. However, many companies sell domain names, and the majority of them are relatively inexpensive.

It is not necessary to match your domain name with your company's name. You can instead use your company's keywords. Think of the words a consumer would look for in search of a company like you.

Conserve and target social media customers

The use of U.S. social media is common. There are approximately 233 million users of social networks, according to Statist, that is, over 70% of the population of the USA.

• 74% of consumers in the Manifesto follow brands on social media and 96% interact with brands they follow in social media.

You don't have to visit every social site; instead, focus on your target market that is most popular. However, all the other sites should be registered so that nobody else can use your name.

Construct an online shop

In 2021, 56% of retailers prioritize their eCommerce and online presence according to a retail impact study from Software Advice. You will need an e-commerce solution if you plan to sell products online. Here you have various options:

• By adding eCommerce tools, you can build an e-commerce platform on your own site.
• Many web hosts have packages for e-commerce.
• Sign up with a hosting supplier, like Shopify or BigCommerce.
• Built a store in (or more) one of Amazon, eBay, Walmart, or Etsy's mega plans.

Just one of these options does not have to be selected. For example, on your site, you can have your own solution and sell it on mega markets too.

Furthermore, it must be clear and easy to operate your online store, but it doesn't have to be fancy. The primary factors which lead to on-line purchasing are that 95% of consumers say clear pictures, product descriptions, and stock availability.

An important note: Many consumers browse and shop on their mobile devices, so it is essential for your website and an online shop to be mobile.

How to get your new online company

Unlike in the Field of Dreams film, it doesn't apply to online companies if you construct it. You must take traffic to your site and increase your business awareness. This can be done in different ways, and they are all essential for building an online presence.

Let's just look at a couple of them.

Conduct search engine optimization of traffic into your business

It is crucial to optimize your website to enable consumers to find you when searching online. Optimization of search engines (SEO) is a part of marketing search engines (SEM). They can both get a bit complicated so that you can outsource this task.

A search engine is used for around 93 percent of online activity. This applies also to local companies' online searches. Use the Google Keyword Planner tool to optimize your search engine to find out what keywords are most popular for your business. It helps to copy your website using those keywords, in particular headlines, subheadings, and subheadings.

Make sure all online directories are updated

Consumers are increasingly relying on online directories that are just an online list of companies (think the online version of the Yellow Pages). To find the necessary products and services. Start with your free Google My Business listing. Your company might already have a listing, but it probably isn't true or complete, if you didn't "claim" it.

To create listings on other search directories and maps, use your Google My Business information. SearchEngineJournal states that Google My Business, Bing Places, Yahoo, Yelp, and Foursquare are the top five online directories. You should add them to the list if your industry has its own online directory, like Houzz and TripAdvisor.

Convert more clients to online reviews

Check on the online ratings and reviews websites to make your listing. When looking at other companies, many consumers "discover" new businesses. These sites help to build your online presence since consumers refer to these sites frequently.

• 87% of consumers read local business online reviews in 2020
• 73% of consumers are only aware of reviews written last month
• 20% of consumers expect a response to be received within one day by writing a review

It is important to take time to react to each review throughout these platforms, good or bad, as customers with positive and negative feedback see you are better placed to rely on their ability to offer them great customer service.

Use brand awareness content

Content is king, a big buzz phrase that was made a couple of years ago, is an important element in building an online presence. The more content you create, the more chances consumer has to discover their company.

You should naturally add your content and social channels to your own website. Consider posting your social platforms with video content (including YouTube). Think of your potential clients' websites. Do they accept posts from guests? It is a great way to spread brand awareness to other websites.