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People nowadays spend a chunk of their day online. Google states that 97% of customers search for local businesses on the web. What this means for you as a business owner is that if you are not present online, then you are already at a disadvantage in reaching your potential customers and levelling your competitors.
Big businesses are not the only ones who can benefit from having an online presence. What this means for your business is that it can help establish your brand name and better broadcast whatever you are offering to your customers. Likewise, it can help attract a new audience altogether and turn them into your new customers.
Because here at iRepublic we are committed to elevating the online presence of any business, we have rounded up key tips on where to get started in making a mark for your business through online channels.
Your company website
Having a well functioning website is synonymous to any business that wants to be visible online. Websites should not be overly complicated - at the very least it should contain the basic company information that customers need in order to contact you. If you are in the retail business, you can go the extra mile by incorporating an e-commerce shop in your website. This lets customers shop directly from your site anytime and anywhere with just a few simple clicks.
While a more complicated website may need the help of an experienced web developer or agency, a basic website is something anyone can accomplish with an easy application.
iRepublic is a website builder that makes it easy for anyone to create their own website. (No coding experience needed!) By simply choosing a theme and uploading your own content, you can easily publish it and broadcast your site to the world in just a few hours or days (depending on how fast you move).
Search engine optimization (SEO)
A website is just half the job and would need to be ‘searchable’ by the search engines being used by its potential users or visitors. This is where SEO or search engine optimization comes into the picture. Because customers make use of search engines such as Google or Bing before they make a decision to buy products, it is important that your website is visible and a part of this conversation.
In simpler terms, SEO makes it easy for search engines to find your website and rank them in the search engine results pages for users to see. Websites that are ranked higher in the page, naturally get more website traffic. The goal of SEO is to get your website ranking high enough to be searchable when your potential customer might be looking for your product or service.
SEO is a long term effort and is continuously ongoing. This is why it is important to monitor the content and information that you have in your website and make sure that they are relevant and accurate because these things can affect how your page will rank against the others. Read more about SEO through our beginner’s guide article.
Social media
While having a website is more geared towards information and having an online store, social media is important for being a channel that can engage with customers and build their loyalty. Because people use social media apps every day, having an account here means that you want your audience to know that you are present and reachable.
However, it is important to note that each social media channel serves a different purpose and might not always be relevant to your business. For example, LinkedIn is a great place to be for businesses selling to other businesses but not for brands selling to customers. Firstly, you may want to identify your target audience and see which channels would be the most strategic to focus on. Then once narrowed down, creating a strategy for social media can help make it easier to see what kind of content you need to create and share.
Social media is all about engagement and once you get users engaged, the more you can be exposed to other people who might also be interested in your business. With the way social media works, friends and relatives of those who engage with your content would also be seeing it and will give you the chance to expand your audience and customer base. Learn more about how
social media can impact your business.
Creating a good foundation to your business’ online presence can set you up for years to come especially when paired with the right goals and strategy. Utilize these methods to remain competitive with your competitors and visible to your customers.
iRepublic is here to help you reach your business goals through affordable website services. As one of the first website builders in the Philippines, iRepublic offers affordable web designs that are easy-to-use, modern, mobile-responsive and SEO-friendly. Learn more about what we do and how we can work together.