The internet offers businesses unrivalled opportunities to promote their services, connect with potential clients and customers, and convert interest into sales.
But the online marketplace is crowded, even oversaturated. There is more competition now than ever before and standing out is a challenge.
This is why if you want to improve your chances of achieving online business success, it’s vital to ensure you are as visible as possible.
That’s where the following tips come in! Here, we explore five powerful ways you can raise your online profile and create a meaningful connection between your business and its potential customers.
Arguably the most important aspect of standing out online is Search Engine Optimisation (SEO).
When a potential customer types words related to your business into a search engine like Google, Bing, or others, SEO is what will help your company to be one of the first search results – a crucial factor in attracting customers!
SEO is one of the most powerful tools you can use to grow your business. This is because online search engines are one of the first places that customers go when looking for specific products or services.
For this reason, more companies than ever are recognising the value of search engine optimisation and investing in professionals who create well-optimised websites that generate huge amounts of traffic.
Don’t underuse social media platforms by only posting fun or eye-catching material!
Your social media accounts are also a great way to generate interest in your business, engage potential customers, and show the world your company culture. And while standing out in this space can be challenging, creating carefully constructed social media campaigns will help.
Perhaps you are launching a new product, have a timely special offer, or want to discuss a pressing industry issue? In these cases, creating a week’s worth of related content designed to engage your audience and drive traffic towards a particular product, service, or blog post on your website, could be especially effective.
Ideally, the resource you send people to will show them step-by-step what assistance you can provide and how your services will support their business.
By utilising a well-designed social media strategy that will promote your products and services while always conveying their value, you stand a great chance of success.
You can also stand out in the online marketplace by joining forces with colleagues, peers, and complementary companies in your industry. You could run joint offers, discounts, or campaigns, as well as give interviews to local magazines or websites.
Collaborating with others on a piece of content or specific project also means that when the time comes to promote your work, there will be several other businesspeople immediately on hand to lead the promotional efforts with you – all of whom will have an interest in ensuring that the work is seen by as many people as possible!
Consider holding special events — whether online or in-person — that can generate additional interest and engagement with your business. Live Q&As or product demos, for example, can be conducted completely online, while in-person events could include conferences or ceremonies, or speeches from industry experts, perhaps.
Whether you choose to operate remotely or in-person, events can be a great way to do a launch, create a buzz, and educate customers on the values and uses of your products.
If your circumstances allow and it is appropriate for your business, consider giving awards or recognition to peers for delivering excellence in your industry; this could lead to collaborations and mutual growth with businesses that complement yours.
For example, if you run a travel business, consider reaching out to a market-leading travel insurance company. Or if you run a stationery business, how about connecting with an art materials supplier?
By using an imaginative and collaborative approach that involves joining forces with others and celebrating their achievements, you can harness a powerful way to build connections and increase your reach!