Think about the last restaurant you visited, car you purchased, or the last time you needed an answer to a burning question. Chances are, you probably Googled it. Or asked ChatGPT 😉

In today’s digital age, it’s no secret most of us turn to the internet to research practically everything!

The information and reviews we discover ultimately dictates who we decide to give our hard-earned money to.

As Bob Dylan famously sang: “The times they are a-changin”…

… And we must simply get with the times, or get left behind!

As business owners, we need a robust online presence to reach and engage with our target audience.

We know internet marketing and strategy is a full-time job in and of itself. Not to mention the fact that there is seemingly a new strategy to master each week!

But don’t worry … we’ve got you covered!

The following 5 highly effective strategies have generated lots of success for our clients and we’re confident it will help you improve your business’s online presence and visibility:

1. Develop a polished website

A website is the face of your business and potentially a client’s first impression of you and what you have to offer them. And as we know, we don’t get a second chance at first impressions.

But before you run out and spend money on the latest graphic designs or videography, you can rest assured your website doesn’t need to be fancy to be effective.

A website that features a clean, modern look, is easy to navigate and includes links to valuable insights, success stories and your social media pages gives potential investors everything they need to determine whether your business is in alignment with them and their needs.

2. Invest in search engine optimization (SEO)

SEO is the process of optimizing your website and its content to rank higher in search engine results pages. A higher ranking means increased traffic to your website and social media accounts.

Be honest: When was the last time you scrolled to the second page of Google?The most highly optimized content receives 200x the eyes. In other words, if our content isn’t listed on the first page, chances are it won’t get seen.

That’s what makes investing in SEO so worth it!

If SEO isn’t your sweet spot, not to worry! There are plenty of specialized professionals who can work their SEO magic and remove the cloak of invisibility shadowing your content!

3. Utilize social media

Hate it or love it, social media has undeniably become one of the most cost-effective and efficient ways to build brand awareness. With over 3.8 billion people using social media, it has become easier than ever before to connect with individuals on a global scale.

Ok, so maybe half the users are scrolling cat videos and synchronized dances. But somewhere in that 3.8 billion lies your target audience, and they’re waiting to discover exactly what you have to offer!

With a little research, we can identify which platform our audience frequents the most so we can direct our energy and attention there. Most importantly, have fun! These various platforms provide us with the opportunity to align with our tribe by expressing our thoughts, values and ideas in a relatable way.

When our posts are valuable, consistent and relatable, they have the power to provide a rush of dopamine to our followers, leaving them craving and anticipating more of our compelling content.

Leveraging the power of social media can help us build valuable long-term relationships, provide us with feedback, and aid us in accessing opportunities we may not have otherwise been given.

4. Verify your business with online directories

Claiming and verifying your business with online directories like Google My Business, Bing and Yelp are fantastic ways to improve your online presence, and better yet it’s absolutely free to do so.

“Your brand name is only as good as your reputation.” — Richard Branson

Online directories also provide a platform for clients to leave reviews and ratings, which can greatly impact a business’s reputation. By responding to reviews and addressing customer concerns, businesses can build trust and loyalty and improve their online footprint.

As Zig Ziglar says, “If people like you they will listen to you, but if they trust you, they will do business with you.“

5. Use email marketing

Last, but certainly not least we have email marketing. Despite the massive increase in popularity of social media, research shows that email is still the best marketing tool to reach audiences. The number of email users continues to grow each year with no signs of slowing in sight!

So, where do we start? Let’s get into it…

Build your email list: Before we can send an email, we need someone to send it to!

You can do this by adding sign-up forms to your website, offering incentives for sign-ups, or collecting emails at events. Building our list is just the beginning! We want to be sure we nurture those who opt-in for our content on a consistent basis.

Create valuable content: Our email content should be relevant, informative, and valuable to our subscribers. This can include blog posts, how-to guides, special offers, or exclusive content. Email without value is just spam!

Use engaging subject lines: The subject line is the first thing our subscribers see, so it’s important we make it compelling, while also keeping length in mind.

Optimize for mobile: More than half of all emails are opened on mobile devices, so we want to make sure our emails are optimized for small screens.

Test and measure: Experiment with different subject lines, content, and calls-to-action to see what resonates best with your audience. Use analytics to track open rates, click-through rates, and other metrics, and use this data to improve your future campaigns.

Follow best practices: We want to be sure to follow best practices for email marketing, such as including an unsubscribe link, using a clear sender name and address, and avoiding spam triggers like all-caps subject lines or excessive use of images.

Implementing these steps, in conjunction with our offline strategies, will help us build a list and acquire a following of like-minded people. Folks who are on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting our next blog, email, post, or interaction with us … Which will inevitably lead to more business.