Small businesses often overlook the importance of establishing an online identity. As more and more people search for local services online, it’s critical for your business to have a digital presence.
A strong online presence leads to higher traffic and increased customer loyalty—not to mention credibility.
While managing your company’s online identity can seem too daunting a task, you certainly don’t have to be an IT professional to get your business online.
Here are four effective tips to improve your businesses’ digital identity.
1. Choose a responsive web template.
You don’t have to be a web designer to launch a simple and responsive website that gets the job done. Site builders like WordPress, Squarespace and Wix offer customizable templates for any business.
When choosing a template, look for responsive ones. A responsive design “responds” to the user’s needs based on their devices. Simply put, your website needs to look the same whether viewed on a computer, smartphone or tablet. Besides offering a seamless customer experience, the benefits of responsive web design include:
- Faster page loading times
- Stronger search engine optimization (SEO)
- Increased conversion rate
2. Establish a social media presence.
With two-thirds of Americans on Facebook, it’s one of the best places to establish your small businesses’ online identity. Your Facebook page features important information such as location, directions, hours and product information. Creating a company page also means access to Facebook Insights, so you can better understand your target audience and cater your messaging towards them.
Despite hundreds of social platforms on the market today, creating an account for your small business doesn’t have to be overwhelming—and you certainly don’t have to be present on all of them. In fact, focusing on one or two platforms is ideal for sending out a clear message.
3. Create a company blog.
Communicating with your customers through a company blog not only increases your online visibility, but it drives traffic to your website. Creating original content centered on your product, brand or business is also an effective way to develop meaningful customer relationships.
It’s important to update your blog frequently, or you risk looking like you’ve gone out of business.
4. List your business in online directories.
Listing your company in online directories such as Yelp, Yellow Pages, Angie’s List, etc., increases the number of customers able to find your business. A majority of online directories are free, and getting exposure from big sites is highly effective in driving traffic both online and offline.
Updating your small business’ digital identity doesn’t have to break the bank or cause any headaches. As long as you follow the tips above, you’ll be SEO ready in no time.
At Traffic Jams, we specialize in web design, SEO, social media and public relations. If you’re looking for more information on how to improve your local businesses’ web presence, give us a call (855)-859-9998 or fill out a contact form.
