The internet has changed how we do business. Having a strong online presence is more important than ever! These 6 things are sure-fire ways to generate more leads.
Most business owners would agree that driving more traffic to their website and generating more leads is their number 1 marketing challenge. Yet, most are at a loss as to how to do it.
Digital media has reshaped the consumer buying process. Consumers now take the time before even leaving home to research products, businesses and read online reviews. It has never been more important to have a strong internet presence than it is right now, as “67% of the buyer’s journey is now done digitally.” (SiriusDecisions).
Here’s 6 ways to strengthen your online presence.
Update Your Website
Updating your website with a modern and interactive user- -friendly design that’s easy to navigate is a key element in generating more leads. If your website in its current state is clunky, slow or doesn’t clearly define what you are selling, users moves on to the next one.
Having an interactive website with fresh, dynamic content is a fantastic way to increase customer engagement. When your customers are engaged, they talk about you and share your content with others, including people who aren’t your customers but could be. Engaged customers will refer you to their friends and colleagues and typically spend more money with you.
Your website may be the first impression you make on a prospect who may not know you at all or may have been referred to you by someone. While existing clients are usually more forgiving, new visitors are looking for a website that catches their eye, is easy to understand and is very clear about who you are, what you do and how to find you.
Investing in a fresh, updated website design that is built for the user experience, will give you measurable results.
Invest in SEO
SEO, or search engine optimization, is a list of on and off-page activities done in specific ways that work together to tell search engines, like Google, what your website is about. When Google is well informed about your website, you’re much more likely to show up in search results.
SEO can be pretty complicated and it’s worth it, in most cases, to hire a professional. However, there are website building platforms, like wix.com, that include an SEO wizard with their premium hosting plans that guide you through some of the more important elements of implementing SEO.
Social Media
3.48 billion people and 86% of businesses use social media, according to statistics published by hootsuite.com . Using social media to reach your audience is a no brainer and even a necessity. Platforms like Facebook, have made targeting a very specific audience easy, making it a smart and cost effective place to spend your advertising dollars.
Even if you’re not looking to spend money on advertising, social media allows you to organically build brand awareness by giving your brand a human element that can greatly increase brand loyalty.
Posting high quality and engaging content, sharing updates about new products or services, specials, exclusive offers or upcoming events on social media allows you to reach a large audience all at once.
Blogging
Blog articles have become an increasingly important channel for generating leads. Blogs allow you to establish yourself as an industry expert and build trust with your audience through content. Businesses that post 11+ monthly blogs report 4 times more leads than those posting 1 blog or less per month (Hubspot, 2015).
If your anxiety just shot through the roof because you’re thinking there is no possible way you can come up with 11 or more articles in a 30 day period, relax. There are professionals who will do it for you and at fair price.
Online Reviews
According to revlocal.com, 92% of consumers now read online reviews when researching a local business, then make a decision on whether or not to do business with you based on their online research. If you aren’t encouraging your customers to review you online, you could be detracting new clients without even realizing it.
Reviews also give business owners the opportunity to address issues with unhappy customers and remedy the situation.
Make it a point to ask your customers to leave a review on Google every time you talk to them.
Conclusion
If this all sounds like a full time job in and of itself, that’s because it is. Chances are that as a business owner, you’re simply too busy to even think about updating your website, posting to social media multiple times every week and writing blog articles.
Thin Air Marketing Group designs custom marketing strategies for small businesses. Contact us today for more information.