Standing out online is crucial to the growth of any business in today’s digital age. However, with the massive online space and cloads of competition, it can be challenging to not only be seen but also to be relevant.
So, entrepreneurs and business owners must focus their efforts and set well-rounded goals for their content and social media strategies. As a strong advocate of a whole-brand strategy, I have compiled a list of ten things you can do to increase your online visibility and grow your business.
Here are 10 things you can do to UP your visibility to grow your business:
Use Long-tail Keywords
Every blog title, meta description, and social media post should be optimized with long-tail keywords. People often search for information using voice search, and they tend to ask questions. Therefore, write content for your business, keeping in mind the way potential clients would ask Google or other search engines.
Optimize SEO
SEO is essential for all your new and old content. Go back and review your blog to find ways to tweak your words for new audiences. Change titles and meta descriptions if needed, and refresh your content. Finally, promote it on social media platforms to increase visibility.
Be Social
Social media is not just a place to post pretty pictures or quotes. It’s a platform to engage and have conversations with real people. To earn trust, answer questions, and help someone struggling with a quick brainstorming session. Simply put, go out there, help others, and be great at it!
Guest Blogging
Guest blogging is an excellent opportunity to reach new audiences and gain backlinks. Invite others to guest post on your blog, and don’t be afraid to reach out to influential bloggers and ask them to collaborate. I once emailed Arianna Huffington directly, and within 24 hours, she offered me a contributor position on HuffPost. I leveraged that platform to reach out to influencers for interviews.
Posting regularly on LinkedIn increases your visibility within your network. Writing articles is even better, so share every blog post to LinkedIn as an article. Post quick tips, industry news, and your opinion on trends daily. Finally, use a tool like Hootsuite to schedule your content and save time.
Create Community
Building an engaged community is not just about gaining followers. It’s about creating a loyal and active user base that will become your brand’s ambassadors. Encourage word of mouth and tagging on social media, and look for ways to create conversations that build trust and relationships.
Comment
Respond to comments on your posts, and comment on what others are posting. Engage with your competition’s posts too. By offering great insights and talking like a human to other humans, you can build trust without being sleazy.
Use Tools
Use tools like UberSuggest, BuzzSumo, and Answer The Public to research keywords, trending topics, and curated content. They provide valuable insights on your web content and traffic, industry keywords, and help you curate content.
Mix It Up
Mix your content formats to include those preferred by your audience and to make it easily consumable. Utilize video, blogs, and social media platforms to reach your audience effectively. Sharing other people’s content is not counterproductive, as it helps build trust that you’re not too arrogant to think you have all the answers.
Perseverance
Gaining traction online takes time, but once you have it, don’t give up. Keep creating engaging content and engaging with your audience to maintain your visibility. Standing out online requires a well-rounded strategy and focused efforts. Utilize the ten tips mentioned above to grow your business and increase your online visibility.
What are you doing to stand out online? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
