Are Your Competitors winning because they are getting noticed?
Just about every business has a Web site, that’s a given.
But with the volume of people going to the Internet to start their search for buying a product…
You need more than a Website to command maximum visibility and generate attention for your products and services.
It’s a fact: 80% of customers will search online before they buy. Is your website getting viewed?
To compete effectively, it’s necessary to expand and enhance your exposure in the same online sources your customers and prospects use while searching for products and services. A broad and deep online presence gives you greater opportunity to present your brand, message or offer to your target audience; increasing the likelihood of gaining customers.
In other words you must place your business online, where your customers go online.
Ten online strategies that will help you build the online presence you need.
- Get listed in search-able online directories and catalogs. People in virtually every industry have preferred Websites and directories they return to over and over again to find products and solutions. Search-able online directories give you a powerful and highly visible presence in front of customers and prospects when they are searching for answers.
- Advertise in industry e-newsletters, and have your own email newsletter marketing program to encourage referral business. E-newsletter advertisements deliver your message directly to the in-boxes of prospects and customers. They are a great way to announce new products or your services, specials etc.
- Publish articles online. Consider publishing your articles and ‘blogs‘, not only on your website but on industry related sites, content aggregators and online publications read by your target audience. Work to establish relationships with these sites by pitching article ideas and positioning your company as experts for reporters writing stories.
- Place banner advertising. Due to their highly visible nature, online banners offer both branding and lead generation opportunities. But your ads need to appear on the appropriate Websites. Contact Thinking IT who knows the online behavior of your target audience and can help you place banner ads across a network of relevant sites used by your customers and prospects.
- Join industry trade associations. Associations typically list members and provide links back to your Website. Some will allow you to submit your logo, which helps increase brand visibility for your company. Make sure the link back to your Web site goes to a relevant page; it might be your home page, but it also might be an inner, more specific page.
- Use keyword search ads wisely. Most companies are using keyword search ads to some degree, driving traffic to their Website. If you use keyword ads, choose specific keyword phrases rather than the most popular search terms (for example, “cheap used cars” instead of “cars”). This way, you will not waste money gaining visibility with people who are not your target audience.
- Comment on blogs; participate in online discussions. Interactive social media such as blogs and online discussion groups devoted to your industry are good ways to get your name out there. Remember to post comments with care, anything you write can be seen by many people and is a direct reflection of your company.
- Don’t forget about Affordable SEO. Search engine optimisation (SEO) can draw more attention to your company’s Web pages by helping them rise higher in search engine results for specific keyword searches. Ask Thinking IT how an affordable SEO package can best fit into your marketing strategy, and get you listed high up on the first page of the major search engine results.
- Consider social media. Social Networking including blogs, Twitter and Facebook are another way to promote your company and key messages to your target audience. Social Networking is becoming the new search, and integrating this with your seo will increase your target audience; like the old saying says “There is nothing like word of mouth Advertising” so by using social networking, you are getting your social media streams to work for you.
- Make sure your website has enough pages and information for people to read and has a call to action. Once you have visitors on your site, what is the goal? What do you want your visitors to do?Good Website design will solve this dilemma, by guiding visitors to where you want them, increasing your page rank, and also turning ‘visitors’ into ‘customers’, and after all isn’t that what its all about?
Maintaining a comprehensive online presence will help you get your message across to people who rely on the Internet for searching for the next item they want to purchase.
Recently the Trading Post moved Online, discontinuing their paper completely. A bold move, but a necessary one, as the world is increasing their online search for everything.
What’s your online presence like? Contact Thinking IT to find out how you can be cost effectively noticed on the Internet, and increase your bottom line.
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