The coronavirus pandemic has brought to the forefront of the attention of business owners just how important it is to have an online presence for your business. In the face of orders shutting down storefronts, an online business presence is what kept many businesses from going under. As many have learned, however, it's not enough to simply be online. So how do you improve the online image of your business?
SEO
Search engine optimization is what makes your business appear higher on search engine results than your competitors. This is important since most people using Google don't look past the first page of search results, and an overwhelming majority of website traffic is due to search engine results. The higher your place on a search engine, the more likely you are to get clicks. You are also more likely to be perceived as a reputable business and an expert in your field. You can improve your SEO by making sure your website is optimized for SEO, having quality content on your site, and using keywords correctly.
Gain Positive Reviews
Positive reviews are a double threat when it comes to improving the online image of your business. Positive reviews can have a significant impact in your SEO rankings, and they are what many people go to first when deciding whether or not to support a business. Getting positive reviews can be a bit trickier than getting negative reviews. You'll probably have to solicit them at least a little. To increase your chances of getting good reviews, make sure your customer service is exceptional and that your products work as advertised. You can prevent bad reviews by responding quickly to negative surveys. And when, not if, you receive a negative review, respond quickly to that as well. Consumers will read your response, and that may be the determining factor in how much weight they give to the negative review.
Respond Quickly
Your response time is an important factor in how online consumers perceive your business. Businesses who respond more quickly are considered more positively than those who take a long time to respond or just don't respond at all. Expected response time can be impacted by the method of communication. Most consumers expect a same-day response on social media, while the expectation for web chats is much faster.
Now more than ever it's important for a business to have a quality online presence. A quality online presence for your business can mean the difference between being found by consumers or remaining undiscovered. By focusing on search visibility, gaining positive reviews, and responding in a timely manner to your consumers, you'll be found more easily and consumers will have a more positive opinion of your business.
Need a little extra help developing your business? Schedule a coaching session so I can help you make a plan!