If you’re in the process of starting your own business, it’s important that you read this. To make a business successful is tough. There is an evident need to get noticed, be taken seriously, and of course, get plentiful opportunities to flourish. Luckily, in this age and time, this issue can be resolved with one simple thing: online branding.
“Who are you? What services do you offer? What do you represent? Are you trustworthy?” These are several questions that any potential client would want to ask. As a businessperson, you have to be adept at offering answers to these questions in a flash.
And, this is why creating an online brand of yourself/business is crucial. To help you get started, here’s an essential guide to building a successful brand online:
1. Select Your Social Media Platform
First of all, your business doesn’t have to be present on every social media platform. That’s not only irrelevant but also hard to keep up with. Don’t confuse yourself or your clients with a bucketful of social media accounts.
Depending on your business’ industry, choose specific platforms. Usually, Facebook & Twitter serve as the face of any business to gain traction. Hence, ensure that these two accounts are maintained with relentless professionalism.
2. Revamp Your Blog/Website
Having an online presence of your own has its own set of advantages. You have the liberty to promote your services, showcase business achievements, and display contact details in whichever you want. Having a blog or website adds value to your business in front of potential clients. Therefore, make sure you work on this platform on a daily basis.
3. Connect, Converse and Grow
Your social media strategy is in place. Your website looks great. What’s the next step? Networking.
As a businessperson, you must join online communities (on Facebook/LinkedIn/Twitter) to acquaint yourself with the latest trends in your industry and connect with your competitors, potential clients, and business associates. You need to let other businesses take notice of you.
4. Always be Approachable
Now, if you are playing by the book, you need to understand the importance of being approachable. Publishing a website isn’t enough. It’s necessary to make that presence grow into a powerful brand, and that isn’t possible if you choose to ignore queries, requests or feedback online!
Whether it is a small tweet regarding your business or a comment on your business’ services published on a community forum, learn to give prompt and polite responses. Even a tiny online footprint would help your brand flourish and grow.
Creating the perfect online brand requires continuous efforts, brainstorming, and planning. The key is to take up every initiative in baby steps. To begin with, you can draft a weekly plan that includes posting on social media, reading posts on communities, and replying back to all queries and feedback—you choose!
Asavari Sharma
Asavari is a copywriter and marketer specializing in content creation, social media, and inbound marketing for multiple industries such as outsourcing/offshoring, eCommerce, SaaS, CX, and finance. She currently heads the content division at Think Little Big, a UK-based marketing agency, where she writes content for corporate blogs, landing pages, email newsletters, guides and eBooks, and microcopy for social media. As of today, she has bylines in MarketingProfs, E27.co, Thrive Global, SmallBizDaily, The Times Group, and The Indian Express, among others, and has helped 72+ businesses boost their online visibility with the power of content.
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