In today’s digital age, having strong online visibility is vital for the success of any business. With more and more customers turning to the internet to research products and services, ensuring your business is visible online is essential. Here are seven ways to increase your business’s online visibility:
1. Optimize your website for search engines:
Search engine optimization (SEO) is optimizing your website to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). You can boost your website’s visibility on Google and other search engines by using targeted keywords, creating high-quality content, and improving website speed.
2. Claim your business listings on directories and social media platforms:
Claiming and optimizing your business listings on directories and social media platforms like Google My Business, Yelp, Facebook, and LinkedIn can increase your visibility in local search results. You can improve your online presence and attract more customers by providing accurate and up-to-date information about your business.
3. Publish high-quality content on your website:
Creating high-quality and relevant content is a powerful way to attract more visitors to your website. By publishing blog posts, infographics, videos, and other content that provide value to your target audience, you can increase your website’s visibility and show your business as a thought leader in your industry.
4. Leverage social media:
Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram can be powerful tools for increasing your business’s online visibility. Regularly sharing engaging content and interacting with your followers can build a loyal following and raise brand awareness.
5. Use email marketing:
Email marketing is an effective way to reach out to your customers and prospects directly. You can increase your website traffic and sales by creating targeted email campaigns that provide value to your subscribers.
6. Invest in paid advertising:
Paid advertising on platforms like Google Ads and Facebook Ads can help you reach a larger audience and increase your online visibility. Targeting specific keywords and demographics can attract more qualified leads to your website and increase your conversion rates.
7. Collaborate with other businesses and influencers:
Collaborating with other companies and influencers in your industry can help you increase your online visibility and reach new audiences. By working together on co-marketing campaigns, guest blogging, or social media takeovers, you can leverage each other’s audiences and expand your reach.
In conclusion, increasing your business’s online visibility requires a thorough approach that involves optimizing your website, leveraging social media, publishing high-quality content, and investing in paid advertising. By pursuing these tips, you can improve your online actuality and attract more customers to your business.
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Owning an online business allows you to work from anywhere you want. All you need is to set flexible work hours and establish your presence. Not only this, online businesses have significantly low startup costs and that is what makes it ideal, especially for new entrepreneurs. This is one of the main reasons why traditional brick-and-mortar businesses are gradually declining. They are now more focused on being globalized and ubiquitous.
To put it simply, running an online business has a plethora of benefits if you are an experienced entrepreneur. However, if you are a startup and facing troubles in creating a presence, you need to understand that starting an online business is easy, but running it requires your attention. Whether your digital set up is in its initial phase or has achieved some milestones, knowing key details of the mainstream market and understanding it is of paramount importance.
Another major aspect that is essential to consider when it comes to running an online business successfully is familiarity with technology. If anentrepreneur lacks knowledge of digital marketing or other tech-based strategies, reaching the target audience becomes a daunting task.
If you can relate to this, then the provided details might be useful for your online business. All you need is to consider the following steps while running your online business.
How to Run an Online Business?
Establish Your Business Market
There is no doubt that without understanding the target market you want to focus on, you cannot increase your sales. However, if you know where you will find your target audience online, developing marketing strategies become a breeze.
According to expert marketers, when an entrepreneur understands their core audience, it will help them find the right ways to offer the products that interest the audience. The point is, researching the market position and analyzing the needs and interest of customers is substantially important before launching your product.
Register Your Domain Name
Your online business requires a domain name. Without registering it you cannot run your business as it is your online address, spot or place where people will find you on the internet. The good news is that there is a myriad of companies that sell a domain name. Google Domains, in this regard, is one of the common choices you can opt for.
Your domain name plays a critical role when it is comes to branding an online company. Here is when you need to come up with a domain name that truly reflects your company and its goals. While choosing a name, make sure you use the name checker tool to help you see what is available.
Host Your Business Domain
Hosting a business domain is an integral part of running a business online. Through a web host, your online business gets space on various servers. Sometimes both registering a domain and finding a host for it can be achieved with the help of one company. Following are the key features you need to consider when you choose a web host.
Uptime percentage
Available marketing tools
Storage capacity
Email features that are based on domain
How it offers customer response forms
Hosting capability for blogging
Accessibility for customer support
Focus on Your Business Website Design
The first impression is the last impression’ -whether you believe it or not it is undeniably true when it is about your website design. Your customer doesn’t have a place to visit or judge your market credibility; however, it’s your e-commerce platform/website that enables customers to understand your marketing skills.
That is to say, the more attractive and informative your website design is, the more customers your online business will attract. This is where both your marketing expertise and technology create a storefront for you. If your brand is failing to grab the attention of potential customers, it is the right time to consider alternative options.
Hiring a professional web designer with sound web skills can make a huge difference to your websites’ layout. We recommend you choose a quality e-commerce platform to not only help you customize the website, but also run an online business.
Add an Online Payment Option
The concept of online shopping encapsulates customer’s easiness whether it is about purchasing online or paying online. That is what adding online payment feature to online business makes extremely important. It gives customers satisfaction that they can process transactions without having to go through a long and arduous payment process.
Besides that, giving your customers multiple gateways for shopping can also have a significant impact on your business success. Allow upgrades and provide different packages for purchase options to make shopping fun and convenient from your online store.
Increase Website Traffic
Providing quality products and excellent user experience to your customers is your foremost responsibility if you are an online entrepreneur. It is the only way you can retain your customers while driving more traffic to your website.
For running an online business successfully, you need to make extra efforts to stand out from your competitors, which is not possible until you leverage the right strategies to attract the right customers. Always focus on the target group to generate more sales and create more traffic online. Here are few tips o drive traffic:
Register with popular search engines, like Bing and Google
Use persuasive online advertising on social media platforms, such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram
Focus on quality content marketing
Gradually incorporate advanced digital marketing strategies to increase quality traffic on your website. Remember that, driving massive traffic involves a number of technicalities and requires you to consult with digital marketing experts. In addition to that, never compromise on the quality of e-commerce software as it will help you keep a tab on financial information, customer data and other analytics for your future business decisions.
Final Thoughts
All in all, an online business is undeniably a decent way to earn money, but requires proper strategies and planning to run it efficiently. It takes your hard work, time and most importantly market understanding to run an online business.
Who we are: Funded.com is a platform that is A+ BBB rated over 10+ years. Access our network of Investors, get instantly matched with a Lender, or get a business plan by visiting us Funded.com
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When it comes to the topic of starting a new online business, most entrepreneurs think that trial and error is the way to go but this isn’t so. A number of experienced business people can give you details as to what went right during their venture into the world of startups, and what went horribly wrong. Based on these assessments, there are certain combinations of practices that, if done right, can result in starting a successful business. Here’s what most online business owners swear by.
Analyzing the Market
Nowadays, the market is somewhat similar across the world so it doesn’t take much time for a certain need to go global. That’s why you’ll need to look into your market for shortages before you can think of a product and assess whether it has an unfulfilled demand in the market. Scour the internet to find answers to your questions.
Have a look at common online forums like Quora and Reddit for people’s questions about the availability of a certain service and product to solve a particular problem. Look for keywords that have a high number of queries but much fewer valuable results. This will be an indication of a market that doesn’t have enough solutions.
Of course, you will have a few competitors in the field so it’s best to examine their marketing strategies and products before you start working on your own versions. This will help you create something innovative that adds more value for the consumer.
Post Good Content
Are you worried about how you’ll convince customers through an online sales call? Here’s what you need to explain so they go through with the entire process, up until the final purchase.
Give headings that pique consumer interest
Address the problem that your brand can solve
Ensure your reliability by giving details of your experience and the people on your team
Provide testimonials of happy customers
Make a good offer
Provide them with a guarantee so they feel reassured
Make it a matter of urgency so they can’t refuse
Make the sale
While walking your customer through the website, make sure that you’re focusing on their need and how you’re helping them.
Deliver a Proper Website
For a business that operates solely online, a website serves as a headquarters and you sure as heck can’t compromise on the quality of yours. Take it from online selling pros, most retail brands keep their websites fairly simple; they know that they have less than 15 seconds to capture consumer attention, which means a smaller business like your has less than 10. So remember:
No funky colors or fonts; clear, dark fonts on white works well enough
Make it simple to navigate to and from pages
Grasp consumer attention on every page with interesting images and videos
Collect e-mail addresses from visiting traffic to give updates on sales
Shorten the number of clicks it takes to confirm a transaction; one to add card details and one to confirm
Optimize it for mobile devices
Search Engine Help
Operating a business online requires that you be on good terms with the search engines, especially reigning power, Google. Using a PPC (pay per click) scheme to advertise your new business is effective at drawing more traffic towards your website. This will work much quicker than waiting for organic traffic to trickle in.
Advertising through Google AdWords’ Network Display strategies gives the benefit of your brand’s banners being up within a matter of hours. Moreover, utilizing such a system offers the benefit of letting you test how effective other keywords are for driving more traffic.
Once you’ve determined which keywords work best, you can then incorporate them into your advertisements, social media posts and most importantly, your website. This will boost your rankings on SERPs.
Be a Leading Authority in Your Niche
Aside from being your source of income, the internet serves as the population’s largest source of authentic information in a hundred different forms. If you appeal to the people looking for information, and not just those who set out to make a purchase, you end up building traction among a larger group of people.
Hence, lure in information-seekers by giving your expertise-based articles on different websites. You can create other forms of content, such as videos, info graphics, and images that are sure to make an impact on readers who might end up making a purchase later on. On every informative piece, add the option for them to share it with their friends.
Be active on the very platforms where your target audience asks questions relating to your field, and answer them. After all, what’s more, appealing than a CEO who actively answers questions on the internet?
Leverage Email Marketing
When you give visiting traffic the option to submit their email addresses, you get a valuable list of potential customers who have opened the doors to their inboxes for you. Essentially, it indicates that they have developed an interest in your brand, are willing to form a long-term relationship with your brand.
Individuals who visit your website and leave their email address are basically giving you permission to contact them. They are potential customers and email marketing is the best way to follow up with leads.
Enhance Customer Loyalty
Customers look for value wherever they go and that’s what you need to offer. It’s quite possible that over a quarter of people who made a purchase from your website would be willing to do it again if you contact them again with a good deal.
The first sale you make is the most crucial but it’s also expensive. Hence, you’ll need to offer them related items that go well with their purchase and send redeemable coupons to ensure that they return. If you reward them with incentives to buy again, your customers are sure to be loyal to your brand.
Even though the online-world is faced paced and dynamic, it isn’t the case for markets and businesses that are operating through the internet. The basic aspects of starting a profitable online business are still the same as before.
Who we are: Funded.com is a platform that is A+ BBB rated over 10+ years. Access our network of Investors, get instantly matched with a Lender, or get a business plan by visiting us Funded.com
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Have you decided to ditch your 9 to 5 job in favor of an online business, such as an e-commerce website or a blogging business? Or have you decided to take up an online business as a side hustle to complement your 9-5 job, and rake in extra cash? Whichever way, these are great intentions.
The Internet and smartphones have changed the way we do business, and in 2020 alone, E-commerce sales accounted for over 25% percent of all retail sales online, according to Statista.
A great number of people are taking a stab at starting their online businesses, so why shouldn’t you?
But, do you have a real understanding of what it takes to be successful in an online business? While it is good to dream big and have big goals of generating a million dollars, do you have a full grasp of what you need to get to that point and ensure that you don’t get lost in the tide?
According to several sources, including Forbes, over 90% of all online business start-ups fail. Fortunately, you are reading this guide, which contains tips that can place you in the 10% successful online businesses. Let’s do this!
With this in mind, here are few tested and trusted tips that you must follow to stand out and succeed with your online business goals:
Understand Your Niche
How do others perceive your brand? What do people know about what you stand for? People like to do business with brands that they know, like, and trust. In your chosen niche, you have to be authentic, doing what works for you and your target audience.
This is why doing market research about the needs and wants of your target audience is important even before you start.
Are there particular demographics you want to attract? What qualities will they look out for in your product/service, and how can you meet those? This will help you with positioning your brand and creating the best marketing strategy for communicating your business with your target consumers.
For instance, if you want to start a blogging business in the fitness niche, you have to identify what aspect of fitness you are well versed in. In this vein, let’s say you decide to focus on workout routines and nutrition, your next step should be to identify the people you want to reach, and how best you can add value to their lives through your blog.
So, you have a niche now, what next?
Know Your Competition
Competition refers to brands that sell or market the same products/services as you. Except you are going into a niche with no existing businesses, which is almost impossible, then you need to evaluate your competition.
Why should customers choose you over others? This is even more crucial in the online business world.
Your strategy for Content Marketing, SEO optimization, and your User experience/interface (website/ mobile app) should position you ahead of your competition. You should be aware of the social media platforms your competitors are using. This will also arm you with knowledge on where best to engage with your potentials.
For instance, doing your analysis of your competition, you might discover that they focus more on Instagram because the majority of target consumers spend their time there. Needless to say, any social media marketing strategy you craft should then center more on Instagram.
Optimize your Web Assets
Web assets are what constitute your online business. They include everything from your website, social media profiles to your hosting accounts.
You need to organize these relevant assets and ensure that they are fully optimized for your brand.
For instance, your webpages and social media should always be completely updated with the latest information about your company.
Your website should be responsive with quick load time to improve the time consumers spend on it. A lightning-fast load speed increases visitor engagement and sales, and instant web response results in higher conversion rates.
According to a recent Aberdeen Group Research, every 1 second delay in page load decreases customer satisfaction by 16 percent, page views by 11 percent, and conversion rates by 7 percent.
Over Deliver
After examining your competitors, set benchmarks for your brand’s products and services, and try always to surpass them. Endeavor to meet consumers’ expectations on the value you communicated and even exceeded them.
The importance of delivering more value, especially for your initial offerings, cannot be over stressed. First impressions usually last longer, and a great one could mean several loyal customers.
Just imagine the glee on your consumers’ faces when they discover that they have gotten way more value from your brand than they expected. Priceless! This will keep them coming back for more.
Such a consumer will go ahead to tell friends, who will, in turn, tell friends, and your customer base will keep increasing till you become a leader in that niche, gaining the trust and attention of consumers.
Be Conscious of and Protect the Online Reputation of your Brand
Reputation is at the core and center of any online business. Even the slightest mistake can put your brand in a negative light and taint your brand for a long time. One way to remain conscious about mentions of your brand is to set a Google Alerts notification.
Have social media guidelines and strict branding rules. If anyone is posting about your brand, then you understand what you expect from them.
But even beyond brand mentions, how do you deal with and respond to complaints from your customers. It is highly recommended that you develop a serving, not selling mindset. Be interested in solving customers’ problems, and meeting them at their point of need.
Recent statistics show that 73% of consumers love a brand because of helpful customer service, and 89% of shoppers stay loyal to brands that share their values.
Focus on Serving
When you focus on serving your customers to the best of your capacity and providing great value, sales and profit will come naturally.
Learn how to identify the concerns and problems of your consumers, and educate them on how to solve these issues as a freebie.
As an online fitness coach, for instance, if you notice that your customers are having issues with balancing their carbs intake, you can create a detailed blog post or YouTube video to address that.
People love free things. So, helping your customers with that issue for free will endear you to them. But even beyond that, it will also go a long way to show that you are very knowledgeable, and stand you out among other fitness coaches.
What’s more, research shows that brands which blog generate 67% more leads. So, serving customers will eventually lead to more gains.
Conclusion
If you want to enter the business world, you have to learn how to be persistent. If you continue to do all the right things we’ve discussed above, staying consistent, you can realize your goals.
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