Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money, Business/Entrepreneurship and Technology. In today’s digital age, the majority of business is conducted online. As such, you want to create as a strong a presence online as possible. The following contributed post is entitled, What It Takes to Create A Strong Online Presence.
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How solid is your digital presence? Ever since the digital era took hold worldwide, people have seen the need to have an online presence to support business growth. However, not many give much thought to going beyond having a website. The idea of creating a solid online presence is to capitalize on the several advantages the internet offers. Today, it’s not good enough to just have an online footprint. Besides, with 4,208,571,287 internet users worldwide, you have no choice but to employ tools that set you apart from the rest. Here are a few strategies worth considering:
1. Build a captivating website
Your website is the face of your online footprint. It’s the first impression you get to create on people who chance upon your digital address. No matter how well known your brand is, without a solidly captivating website to draw more people, your product or service will be impacted negatively. Apart from being visually appealing, an excellent website must have the following features:
● User-friendly
● Quick loading time
● Suited to drive conversions from web traffic
Nonetheless, the most critical feature of any good website is security. How secure are visitors or guests to your page? Was your website built with a focus to protect visitors’ digital details from virtual attacks? These are essential questions you’ll need to answer if you intend to create a solid presence in the virtual space.
Fortunately, as technology advances, new software is developed to cater to these growing demands. For example, the JAMstack website builder is one such application changing the face of websites worldwide. It’s faster, secure, and designed to beat the competition. It would help if you tried it for lasting positive results.
2. SEO
Search Engine Optimization is a tool you can’t overlook in today’s competitive online world. This digital tool is designed to singularly influence how well your online presence ranks among a sea of others within the same space. According to Statista, over 64% of Americans prefer to conduct an online search on products or services before making an actual purchase. Therefore, companies with excellent SEOs tend to benefit more from such online searches.
Today’s consumer is more discerning, a lot more internet-savvy, and exhibits changing behavioral purchasing patterns. As a result, you should leverage the benefits of search engine optimizations and factor that into the kind of quality content you produce for the end-user.
Moreover, SEO has a direct influence on website performance and traffic conversions. Furthermore, it’s advisable to make a deliberate effort to stay updated on the latest SEO trends not to lose your online influence. Without it, you’ll be no different from those without digital footprints.
3. Be geared toward mobile influence
According to Pew Research, the mobile phone penetration rate in the United States stands at 97%. With the advancements made in the smartphone industry, more Americans own mobile devices that allow them to gain instant access to the internet. Therefore, laptop and desktop computers are gradually coming second to the smartphone, regarding internet access.
Have you optimized your online pages for tablets and smartphones? Because many Americans find their smartphones and tablets convenient for web browsing, you should think along those lines. Suppose your digital pages make it impossible or difficult for mobile users. In that case, you should be ready to record a drastic drop in your followers, customers, or general internet users.
The same Pew Research study reveals that by 2025, business owners stand to lose almost 90% of income generation channels if they fail to make their content mobile-friendly. There’s hope, however; if you’re unsure about your digital status, take a mobile-friendly test by using Google analytical tools. On this platform, you get to resolve relevant usability issues.
4. Register in business directories
Do you remember those bulky yellow pages? Well, they have also gone online, and so should you. Online business directories are designed to simplify the search for credible businesses in varied locations. How quickly do you intend to be found by consumers? Customers tend to trust directories a lot more than online reviews because these listings undergo thorough verification processes. As a result, there is a significantly reduced chance of seeking an inefficient service provider’s assistance.
In conclusion, your commitment to creating a robust online presence should be driven by the desire to meet growing needs. Besides, as a business owner, you’ll be doing your establishment a lot of good by taking the necessary steps to carve a niche in this competitive space.
