Building a brand takes time, dedication, and a strong web presence. In this age of digital leverage, the ability to be found on the internet can make or break your business, especially if it’s a new one. It’s a great way for your target audience to both find and interact with you more consistently and organically. 

We’ll talk more about how to do it, but first, let’s begin with what web presence actually is. 

What is web presence? 

Do you have a website? We’re here to tell you that, unfortunately, it’s just not enough anymore to simply have a website—though it is a great first step. According to HubSpot, web presence, or online presence, is “defined by how easy it is to find a brand or company online.” Being searchable will help set the foundation for “your brand’s reputation, increasing brand awareness, and providing visibility to your products or services when users are searching for related keywords.”

Would you be able to find the animal sneaking into your yard if it didn’t leave any signs that it was there? Just as the answer is no, your target audience isn’t going to be able to find you either if you aren’t leaving behind any digital footprints or breadcrumbs. 

How to build and maintain your web presence 

Now that we know a little bit more about what a web presence is and why it’s important, we can talk more about ways that you can start building yours. The same HubSpot article discusses a substantial number of steps you can take to build your online presence and here are some we hand-picked just for you:

Learn more about SEO AND start using

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. According to Semrush, Search Engine Optimization is “a set of processes aimed at improving your website’s visibility in search engines (such as Google). All with the goal of getting more organic traffic.” In general, when you’re working to increase your SEO, you’re doing the necessary keyword research, creating and optimizing content, doing technical optimization, and building links. 

By using more SEO you’re essentially leaving behind more footprints as evidence that you are there. You exist and you’re users must find you!

Show up consistently

Consistency is key, as they say. The more time you spend on things like social media, updating your website, adding articles to your blog, setting up Google My Business and responding to reviews—the list goes on—the more digitally successful you will be. The more active your brand is on the World Wide Web, the easier it’s going to be for search engines like Google to find you.

Track metrics

Just as the work on the front end is important, so is the work you need to be doing on the back end. Tracking metrics and collecting data is as important as taking your vitamins. These tools will be able to give you more insight into whether your efforts are successful. Working with a marketing team (like yours truly) can help give you insights into how you can improve and what might be holding you back. 

Other efforts like A/B testing can help you find what works and what doesn’t. However, it’s going to be considerably more difficult without the insight you’ll receive from tracking your metrics. 

Take advantage of social media

Some brands skip having a website altogether because of how powerful social media has become over the last decade. Depending on your business, that might not be the right option for you, but being active on social media is highly recommended. Seriously, we couldn’t recommend it enough. There are 3.2 billion people on social media globally. Don’t miss the opportunity of this enormous audience, or at a possibility to increase trust, credibility, and reputation as well as show your followers what you’re all about. 

Have a good website

As we said earlier, it’s not enough to simply have a website. It must be a good website. If you’re wondering whether you have a good, or even great website, here are some characteristics yours should have:

  • Innovative and functional design
  • Easy for users to navigate
  • Mobile-friendliness
  • Search engine optimized content
  • Updated content, free of broken links
  • Who you are and what you do is made clear to users within the first 3 seconds of visiting your site

If you’re worried your website isn’t as great as it could be, head over to our contact page and get in touch with our exceptional sales team. Your web presence is vital to the health of your organization, and we want nothing more than to see yours thrive.