Five Things Every Business Needs To Succeed Online.
We know our businesses need an online presence, but in what capacity? What’s the strategy? It’s not enough to be present. We have to actively engage. And not just engage — tell a story, be personable, be human.
All small businesses for the first few years (ideally within the first year) need to do the following:
Create a brand story and branding. Then use that brand story and branding as a lens through which you…
claim and fill out your Google Business Profile,
set up your professional social media accounts,
and create content for your Google Business Profile and social media.
Use the brand story, branding, and content to create a website (and then connect your website, Google Business Profile, and social media.)
These five things won't happen overnight and don't necessarily have to happen in that order. However, you do need to establish your branding and brand story before you can do anything else.
If you didn't prioritize your brand story, that's OK. Take a moment to define your story and the different elements of your brand. Then go back through your Google Business Profile, social media, and website to make sure that your story and branding are consistent throughout.
These five things are step one of a multifaceted, holistic approach to a healthy online presence. Of course, there are other important digital marketing initiatives (e-mail marketing, SEO, ads, etc.) However, you need a strong foundation before you can really take advantage of these amazing online tools.