Most small business owners have come to grips with the fact it is tough to survive in an increasingly digital world without a website. Your company website is essentially your online storefront and it should be treated with the same care as your brick and mortar establishment. You should have an attractive design and usability should be a priority. It is best to hire an experienced web developer to create your website so it functions properly and provides the expected results. Keywords related to your business should be used throughout your site and detailed contact information should be easily available. However, just having a website isn’t enough to truly command online attention.
Content
Written blogs, news releases, memes, graphics, images and videos are great ways to make your company easier to find online. Make sure your content is of high quality, diverse and focused on educating and entertaining your customer. Include your staff, as this will give you multiple voices and insights from those working closely with your customers. Your company blog is your most forward facing web page and can significantly increase your website visits if used properly.
Social Media
Small business owners have started to realize the power of social media when it comes to marketing and building their brand. Having a strong social presence directly correlates to having a strong online presence. It can be used to distribute content, build connections, generate and nurture leads and promote events or new products. Consistent daily posting and engaging with your followers is essential in making your strategy work.
Events
Hosting a live or online event is a great way to engage your customers and showcase the personality of your brand. In addition, it give you a chance to promote your website and social media pages to a highly targeted audience. Hand out fliers, T-Shirts, zip drives, travel mugs and even pint glasses, all inscribed with your company name and website URL. Everyday items such as these have a long shelf life and can continue to bring exposure to your brand for years to come.
Reviews
Keeping abreast of your online reviews is extremely important for small businesses today. Many people base their feelings towards a company strictly based on the reviews they’ve read. Knowing how to handle bad reviews and promoting the writing of good ones to your customer base can greatly affect your online reputation.
Directories
Many people search for small businesses in generalities such as “bookstore” or “Italian restaurant”. This makes it essential that your business is listed in all major and local directories. Those that utilize these directories hold a distinct advantage over those that don’t as they have a reputable website essentially advertising their services.
Question And Answer Sites
Q&A sites such as Quora offer a great opportunity for small businesses to showcase their expertise in a variety of different areas. All it takes is going to the website and looking for questions surrounding your industry. Once found, answer them to the best of your ability and hyperlink keywords to your website. This will increase your referral traffic, which will improve your SEO.
Search Engine Optimization
Many small business owners struggle to understand SEO and they are not alone. What it takes to rank in the top results of search engines changes constantly. While it may be best to outsource your SEO efforts, the other sections highlighted in this article will help improve your ranking.
With over 12 years in the business, Quikstone Capital Solutions has proven to be a trustworthy and knowledgeable lender specializing in small business funding. Over 60% of our clients are renewals looking to continuously grow their business. Whether you need cash to cover unexpected costs or if you’re looking to make long overdue improvements, Quikstone Capital can help.
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