How A Startup Can Create A Strong Online Presence

In today's internet-driven marketplace, it is crucial for any startup to have a strong online pres-ence.

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Modern-day consumers turn to the internet when they need any kind of product or service which means that in order to succeed, you will need to be easy to find online. This is easier said than done, especially if you are operating in a competitive industry, but there are a few key steps to take early on which will help to establish your brand online. Creating a strong online presence should be viewed as an ongoing process, but here are a few key steps to take.

Craft A Brilliant Website

Your website is how you present your brand to the world and could determine whether or not a consumer opts for you or the competition. This means that it should be expertly designed, easy to use, functional and informative. During designing, using a visual sitemap will enable you to develop a suitable structure and easily test and edit different structures. In addition to this, you must make sure that your website is mobile friendly as most people tend to use a smartphone or tablet as opposed to browsing on a PC.

Search Engine Optimization

Having a beautiful website is all well and good, but there is no point if nobody can find you online. Search engines are (normally) the first port of call, and a user will typically select one of the top listed results in the search engine results page. Search engine optimization (SEO) is an internet marketing practice that can help you to rise through the organic results to increase visibility, establish authority and stay ahead of the competition.

Paid Search Advertising

SEO is great for delivering long-term results, but it is a slow and ongoing process. It is for this reason why a startup can benefit greatly by also using paid search advertising which will place your ads in the sponsored section of search engine results lists. This will deliver immediate results and is ideal in the short term whilst you wait for your SEO campaign to take effect.

YouTube Advertising

One of the best places that a startup can advertise their company is YouTube. This is because YouTube has over 1 billion users which makes it a gigantic platform for companies looking to boost their online presence. Additionally, adverts here can be targeted by age, location, gender, and interests, for example, so you will be reaching those that will be interested in your business.

Gmail Advertising

In a similar vein, Gmail is another gigantic platform with millions of users who check their inbox on a regular basis. Communicating via their inbox can feel more personal, and the ads will appear as an email which can be expanded where you could then show videos and graphics, for example, to entice the potential customer.

Social Media

Unsurprisingly, social media is vital in today’s marketplace and, when used correctly, can have a huge impact on brand awareness and reputation. A startup should share regular, relevant and informative information, engage with their target audience and encourage as many likes, shares, and retweets as possible to grow their network. One of the best ways to do this is to run promotions which encourage users to share content to enter. Crucially, you must never be polarizing or post anything controversial as this can have a negative impact on brand reputation.

Create Content

Creating content, such as a blog or YouTube channel, will help to establish your brand as an authoritative source in the industry and can be used alongside your SEO campaign. Make sure that everything that you create is accurate, informative and engaging so that those that read it will find it of use.

Be Patient

When first starting out, it is important to be patient as creating a strong online presence does not happen overnight. It will take some time for results to show, but by putting the work in over time, it should deliver lasting results that will help your company to succeed and stay ahead of the competition. You must also view it as an ongoing process - if you reach the top of the organic listings, then you will need to work to maintain this spot.

Track Results

You will need to track your progress to ensure that you are getting results so that you can make any adjustments if needed. Google Analytics is a superb way to track your website’s traffic, whilst you should also be monitoring how many followers you have on social media, and how many comments and likes you are getting. This will help you to identify what is working and what is not so that you can optimize your approach and create a stronger online presence.

Build Relationships

Much like networking is an important tool for entrepreneurs, you must look to build online relationships to create a larger base and to benefit from recommendations. Join online communities that are in line with your company to create positive relationships, and look to develop relationships with existing customers who sing your praises. Word of mouth marketing, after all, remains incredibly important both online and offline.

Stay On Top Of Trends

You should always be aware of the latest news and trends in your industry so that you can start to create content and post about it on social media. In addition to increasing your visibility online, this can also be helpful for establishing your brand as an authoritative source, as consumers may begin to rely on you for the latest news and trends related to the industry.

Having a strong online presence is crucial to success, but it can be a challenge to stand out from the crowd with so many other brands also trying to get noticed. The above are the main ways that a startup can start to develop a strong online presence which will put them in good stead for the future. It can take some time for results to show, but it is important to be patient as it will all prove to be worth it in the long run if you are easier to find than the competition.