All businesses want to increase their exposure and it’s never been easier to do so in a digital world. Being present and active in the digital space is critical to advancement in today’s marketplace. There is really no magic formula that allows you to be successful in online marketing. But if you make engagement, accessibility and saturation your goals, and commit your time and resources, there’s no telling the number of people you can reach.
Social Media
Your business should try to have a presence on the four biggest social networks: Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and LinkedIn. Each of these channels is a great way to connect with your customers, future customers, communities and more. They can be used in many ways to help increase your exposure. For example, host contests on Facebook, post product videos on YouTube, monitor customer preferences on Twitter and network through LinkedIn. If you don’t have time to commit to each of these, try limiting your effort to just one. You’ll be doing more harm than good if you create a lot of ghost accounts with old information that never gets updated.
Mobile Sites
With each passing day, mobile-friendly sites are more and more crucial for your business. There is an increasing number of smartphone users every day; more than 50 percent of people in the United States use smart phones on a daily basis. The main things to optimize on your mobile site are load time, usability and efficiency. A mobile website that is slow to load, confusing and doesn’t put the sale front and center could cost you customers.
Online Directories
Make sure you can be found where people are searching for you. Even though there are large crowds on social networks, there are still many other places you should be found online. Look for online directories that are specifically for your business and locations. If you sell hats in Dallas, try to look for a directory that is for Dallas-based businesses, then go into clothing categories and insert your contact information.
Double Check Everything
One of the most important steps to really increase your exposure is to go back and check all your information. Whenever you create a new page, website, profile or local listing you need to make sure you correctly fill out your business information. Remember to update your addresses and phone numbers immediately if you ever move locations. Having a consistent name, address and phone number across many sources on the internet also helps your business appear higher in search engine rankings. Another important step is to update your products and services as they might change throughout the years. Also make sure that once people have found you online, they can identify your location once they head to your physical business. Use QR codes to guide people to your mobile site, and make sure your outdoor business signage lets people know they have arrived when using information from the online directories.
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