In today’s world, building your online presence is a must for growing your business. Since the pandemic began, 48% of shoppers are spending more online than in person. Even with the pandemic winding down, these online shopping habits are sticking around. Building your online presence will take detailed planning and consistent online marketing efforts to generate leads and increase sales.
Consistency in marketing matters
Consistency in your marketing is key to your success. You want to stay top of mind with your customers. The more consistent you are with your online marketing, the more exposure your potential customers have with your brand, the more credible your business becomes to them and ultimately, the more likely you are to reach your goals.
Pro tip: Be consistent in the small details of your marketing operations as well. By creating a template in line with your company’s style (font type, terms, grammar, etc.). Your content will be more professional, consistent for your customers, and easier for you to create.
Benefits of consistent marketing
Consistent marketing is the key to creating a brand that people recognize, build loyalty to, and share with others. Here are a few motivating reasons to keep you on top of your online marketing:
Customers recognize your brand: Ultimately, you want your customers to see your content and know it’s your brand without having to see your logo or name displayed. When people are continually exposed to your social media posts or other published material, they will immediately think of your brand when they are ready to make a purchase.
Customers trust your brand: As a professional, sharing your knowledge of relevant content in your industry can position you as an expert in your field. You can talk about different topics in detail and build credibility with your readers. As you engage, your customers will develop a greater feeling of trust in your brand because they’re able to regularly interact with everything you share.
As customers become more invested in the content you share, they will become more emotionally attached and want to see your business succeed. Meta published a report this month that it is important for shoppers’ to feel valued by a brand as much as they value the brand themselves. Having a personal connection with a brand is more important than financial incentives.
Customers are more likely to buy: A 2022 commerce report found that 82% of responders had discovered a product on social media and bought it. Instagram Shopping is a great online feature that makes it easy for potential customers to shop your products from the moment they discover them through your posts, stories, and ad campaigns. A potential customer can watch your Instagram story about your new clothing line and they can proceed to checkout in-app in just a few steps. This will improve your sales and bring more traffic to your business.
5 weekly activities to strengthen your online presence
Online marketing takes frequent planning and action. Here are 5 weekly activities you can do to take your online presence to the next level:
Content creation: Take time each week to create content that you will use in the future. Staying on top of content creation will ensure that you stay in line with your marketing calendar. Make sure that your content is high quality and not rushed. Viewers will make quick judgments on if you are an expert in your field based on the quality of your content.
Schedule social posts: Creating an online marketing calendar is critical to strengthening your online presence. Plan in detail what kind of content you will create and when you will publish it within the next month. A marketing calendar will keep you organized, remind you of what content you need to make, and keep your content aligned with your marketing values and goals.
Reply to all reviews, comments, and direct messages: Effective online marketing initiates conversations with customers because it builds relationships and gives you direction on what your customers want to know. You can share your authentic self, introduce other members of your team, learn and answer questions, share your passion with your online community, and showcase how existing customers are benefitting from your work.
The best practice is to check for reviews, comments, and direct messages at least once a day. The more active you are with replying to people, the more control you have over conversations about your business online. Also, the more likely a broader audience will see your interaction with that customer. Keep your replies respectful, uplifting, and thoughtful to show your customers that you value their thoughts, questions, and concerns.
Publish a new blog post: One of the best ways to be found on the internet is through the content you publish online. Publishing blogs shows that you are an expert in your field and builds your credibility. Look at your list of blog topic ideas and pick one to write about for the week. Research keywords related to your field that are being searched the most online. Using commonly used keywords will help others find you through Google and can give you ideas of what to write about.
Update old imagery and outdated content: The world is ever-changing which means that you need to make sure your content is up-to-date too. Look for old content that may not align with your current values and goals, information that is no longer relevant or helpful, and anything that could be deemed inappropriate. Update this old content with any new advice or insight you might have. Replace old images with new, high-quality pictures. Having updated content throughout your online presence will keep you in control of your brand’s image and reputation.
Make adjustments as needed to your online marketing strategy
Marketing strategies should change as new marketing data is published and new technology to sell products is introduced. Stay flexible with adjusting the steps in your online marketing strategy to not be left behind. Adjust your marketing to better fit the needs of your customers. Target the type of content your customers have been interested in and not interested in. Research what current social media features and other media tools are the most effective way to reach your brand’s goals.
Do you have more questions about how to strengthen your online presence? Let us know by filling out the form below. We want to help you achieve your goals!