Do you remember the landing on the Moon? Two astronauts from America landed and planted a flag that still stands to this day. Now, we might not have witnessed that particular landing live, but that flag remains a reminder to others that we were once there. So consider what might have happened if there had been no flag. No evidence that we ever made it to the moon.
Well, people might forget about it – and that once spectacular journey, along with its ups and downs, would be forgotten or even turned into a bedtime story for children. Now apply this to your brand. If you can’t prove you are here or were ever here, how are you going to prove that you even exist?
For the most part, we don’t like negative materials when it comes to our brand. Because the online world carries information rapidly throughout the world, it might seem best to avoid having an online presence and keep your online profile clear. But just like credit, you don’t have any if you don’t develop it. You might not have any bad marks, but you don’t have any good ones either. Thus, you remain invisible to your online audience.
3 Things To Consider To Keep Yourself Visible
Prove That You’re Here
Your primary goal isn’t just to create a positive online image but to ensure that you can easily be found by customers. It’s up to your audience to generate good references for you by sharing you through their own networks. Just be sure that you utilize social networks effectively by utilizing such tools as LinkedIn’s endorsements, Facebook’s conversations, and Twitter’s regular updates.
Above all, it is essential that you remain consistent in your activity. Blog regularly and talk about yourself by, for example, talking about what the goals for your brand are. Develop contents that are uniquely yours. What makes you special? Generate good relatable content that your audience can see and trust.
Having no online presence not only makes you invisible, but it also results in a lack of authenticity. Are you real? Are you legitimate? Can your potential audience witness it for themselves? It is up to you to build a network that proves your brand validity.
As you prove your existence, it will ultimately result in the audience talking about you and sharing your brand through word of mouth marketing. And whether the conversation is positive or negative, it’s always better than nothing at all.
Use Analytical Tools
What does it take to develop your online presence properly? There are plenty of analytical tools that can be helpful in finding out just where you are in the online world, such as Google Grade. These will help determine how visible you are to the audience, too.
Since the online world is one of the first places that users turn to in order to seek out their interests, it is essential that you do make an appearance wherever and whenever you can. Get yourself found, specifically through searches. This can be done by utilizing keywords effectively and linking to associated sites.
In general, a quality website that reflects your brand’s name and image is the first step to defining an online presence. Just be sure that you utilize your brand’s name within your URL’s. Of course, with the social world a growing interest amongst users, it is crucial that an online campaign makes use of all available platforms. Aside from popular social networks, sites like Elance and oDesk are where you can place your brand as functioning and “open for business” and develop a good reputation.
Get Ahead Of The Curve
As the online world expands, it is necessary to be adaptable to new ideas and trends, especially when it comes to social networking. One of the most significant current trends is the utilization of mobile friendly apps to improve search results.
Mobile surfing has become an increasingly popular method by which users find information about brands that interest them. This is increasingly replacing the habit of picking up the phone book or driving around town in the hope of finding the right place. It is up to you to be there for your audience whenever they come looking for you.
Being invisible is far worse than having some online negatives or poor referrals and references. You lack social proof that you ever existed, and in the eyes of the audience you will simply be a story they heard, but don’t necessarily believe in. If you’re invisible in the online world, they’ll pass you right by every time.
Note: This is a guest post written by Maria Elena Duron.
Maria Elena Duron, is CEO (chief engagement officer) of buzz2bucks.com – a word of mouth marketing firm. She helps create conversation, connection, credibility, community and commerce around your brand. Maria Duron is co-founder and moderator of #brandchat - a weekly Twitter chat focused on every aspect of branding that is recognized by Mashable as one the 15 Essential Twitter Chats for Social Media Marketers.
About BFTKT Interested to write a guest post here on BFTKT blog? Click here to find out how. Also, don't forget to follow us on Google+, Twitter and Facebook and be updated by the latest post here on BFTKT.
