To compete in today’s market, it’s important to have a presence in both the physical and virtual space. In fact, many businesses like ghost kitchens and online retailers are finding success shifting entirely to the virtual space. The world has changed quickly, and more and more customers are primarily comfortable interacting with businesses through their computers and phones.
Customers who like to walk into stores and buy in person have gotten into the habit of researching and making their purchasing decisions online before they visit. In order not to close yourself off to a large section of the buying public, it’s time to start thinking about how to optimize your business for the virtual space. Here are five key ways you can strengthen your business’ virtual presence.
Optimize Your Website for Search Engines
When a customer searches for your product or service on a search engine, you should work towards appearing on the first or first few pages of the search result. Prospects may also see customers reviews on search results which also impacts purchasing decisions. The average time spent on a search is less than a minute, so it’s important to optimize your website to land on the first page.
The most important part of this is finding the right focus keyword. You want one that will attract significant traffic but won’t put you up against the biggest names in the larger industry. Once a prospect finds and clicks on your website link after a web search, you probably have a few seconds to catch their attention, so make sure your website provides a smooth user experience and is optimized for all devices.
- Be Active on Social Media
Many of these social media platforms have over a billion active users and the average internet user spends a shocking 145 minutes a day on social media, which makes these platforms the perfect place to increase your online presence.
While Instagram attracts the young and image-heavy and is perfect for fashion companies, Facebook favors an older audience and is ideal for any company that prefers more textual advertising or would want to have a fan group. Determining the best platform to concentrate your social media efforts for your company depends on your brand, demographics, and content.
- Maintain an Active Blog
It’s all about content. You want to give your fans a reason to keep coming back to your site to see something new and then sticking around to buy something. Not only does this drive traffic to your website, but posting fresh content regularly will help you rank up in organic search.
A blog is one of the best ways to keep your website updated regularly. You can use it for advertising sales and new products and posting news, but you should make sure to have a mix of content. Guest articles are also a great way to boost your virtual presence by partnering with other sites to establish your authority as an expert in the field.
- Get Listed on Relevant Web Directories
Aside from search engines, one of the most common ways people find what they’re looking for is through web directories. These are essentially the modern-day yellow pages, with listings of relevant sites for a specific topic. Getting listed on local web directories also boosts your organic web traffic.
- Offer Online Support
Since the internet became prominent, one of the biggest changes in businesses is customer service. Gone are the days of people waiting on a helpline for hours on end. Now answers are a click away on an online support system on many websites or social media pages.
Voice communication over the internet, or VoIP, has revolutionized how questions and complaints are resolved. What is VoIP? Customers can usually get a hold of someone quickly and are more likely to come away with a positive impression of the company. Be sure to educate yourself on how VoIP is used in business.
The most successful companies today are committing to a robust virtual infrastructure, and this lets them reach customers worldwide and provide a convenient experience. Accessing and boosting your virtual presence is one of the best ways to set yourself up for success in today’s business climate.
