7 Powerful Steps to Increase Your On-line Presence
Artwork: @Reserved by Katie v. Flowers. Soar. Original Artwork & Original Art Prints. Downloads.
One of the best ways to create, establish, maintain and increase your on-line presence is to work at it every day. The adage, Create it and they will come, is overtly over-rated. To create a website, no matter how beautiful it may appear, and never up-date the site is just a website taking up space. It doesn’t matter if you are in business for yourself, or using the site as a portfolio to show off your experience to potential employers, remember the Internet, just as our tangible world is filled with competitors. If you are not doing what you should be doing daily believe me someone else will, and is doing for their site. When you want to increase your online presence then the first serious thing you must do is make a dedicated decision that you want to establish and increase your on-line presence. It takes time and commitment.
Next Steps:
Focus on becoming an expert in your field. This means, learn all you can about your selected field. Stay abreast of what’s happening in it, with it and to it. Why? Because, people tend to listen to, and want to hear from people who they believe knows and understand the ins and outs of their specific interest. Bottom line, people value, and are willing to pay the experts.
Create a website, or blog under your full name. Actually, your website should contain a blog page. But, you can always create several subjective blogs. However, at least one blog page should be dedicated to your line of business and expertise. More on the importance and benefits of blogging in a moment.
Become a good source. Why? Because, experts are expected to help us locate the what, when, where, who, how and why within their specific line of work. When people considers a source to be an expert we have decided that s/he knows more about a particular something than we do. We tend to refer to them as a source for needed information and guidance. We then visit, re-visit and refer to their site.
Create Your Website. Up-date it. Re-vamp it, If you have to.
Always create your website around your specific business, and specifically about what you know. If you have several ideas decide which ones really relate to each other. You might consider having more than one website because nothing is more of a turn off then when visiting a website and it is cluttered with information. People tend to become confused and forget what they came to your site for when it is overly cited. They leave and many never likely to return. Having more than one website in this instance could work in your favor and you can always link them.
Create with value. Your content should be informational and convey what you do, such as, your services and by-product(s). Your services and products is what adds the value to your website. A large part of the information found throughout your website informs your visitors how what you offer adds value to their lives.
Offer Services that help. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you are, how much you make, etc., we all seek out help from time to time on something. Assisting others is what helps to make our website stand out a bit more from the competitor and gives it value. Helping others to achieve their goals. We all like free stuff, including information. Try giving away knowledge, like an e-book from time to time. Share informative links.
Add and up-date your contact information
Always answer to your visitors. People like to know that they are dealing with another human, and we all like to form some kind of relationship before and after we spend any of our money with a source. Treat others the way in which you want to be treated.
Be You. Never try to be something, or somebody else that you are not. People are discerning, aren’t we? When we try to do things just as someone else this façade doesn’t last long and sooner or later it will all back-fire. One of the most essential ways to build and strengthen your on-line presence is allow others to get to know you, meaning speak in your own voice. Find your niche and twerk it as only you can twerk it.
Take advantage of the Social Medias, and use them as your outreach platforms.
Create your business/services Facebook page. We recently re-created our FB page a few months back and as of today we have nearly 2000 friends supporting our artistic mission. Our FB community is growing daily. It is a bit time consuming because the page has to be monitored, and up-dated with posts every day. But, we are glad the efforts are in place for establishing and to maintain the pages.
Create your support base. My partner and I had to create our support base and Facebook is the particular media platform that helps us to it. We had to seek out people having the same, or similar interest. It is essential when creating and developing your supportive community to remember that people want to feel needed, wanted and valued. Consider treating your FB page like a forum where your page friends are also potential prospects treated with respect and are encouraged to participate with posts, and comments. Since we are into the arts we use our FB pages to help promote the arts and show support for the artists. Our FB community of artists and art advocates appear to enjoy the opportunity to show artwork and up-lifting posts that are shared with other artists and art lovers around the world. It’s not all about selling, nor all about my artwork/artistic services. It’s more about helping our FB community feel valued, as they broaden their own network. The money will come.
Let the people know your mission. Create a post to be (Highlighted) for all to see upon visiting and who might consider becoming a part of your Social Media community. This particular post will convey to all what your page is about. Be transparent because this certainly saves time in the long run and will help prevent people from joining who do not have the same interest. We repost our mission message, as a reminder to our community three and four times a week because of our daily individuals, and group add.
Always connect your website URL. The page(s), the blogs, the posts should contain your URL because this information also act as a supporting link to your website.
Use #Hashtags.
Hashtags were essentially started by Twitter, but now you will see them just about anywhere an on-line post can be made. Hashtags helps us to find a subject quickly. I create and use hashtags in nearly every post I make on the Internet, including our social media posts. You will usually find my hashtags at the bottom of each blog, or communicative post. They actually do work. If you have never searched for anything using the hashtag symbol, try it right now. In your search engine slot of your computer type in, #FunkySaK. A group of headings will appear having the same, or similar titles. You will recognize my business website on the first page because it will say, Funky S.a.K/Original Artwork & Art Prints…Type in #katievFlowers and in that pop-up list you will find Katie v. Flowers/All Gallery. Basically, #hashtags helps the Search Engine to group you/your services, and helps you to be found faster.
Start Your Blog.
Create blogs that are informative, and, or interactive and will encourage people to connect with your website. There are free blogger websites, such as WordPress.com as well as blog sites that will teach you how to create blogs, set you up and get you started. You can find plenty of them online. To help get you started, type into your search engine slot, “where to create a blog for free?” Plenty to choose from.
Why have a blog? Because blogs help you to promote and brand yourself, your services and your business. They can be very persuasive when trying to get others to understand and value what you do. It’s always up to you to decide what to blog about, but whatever you decide to blog about if you have a website your blogs should always contain your website URL.
Once you have created your blog(s). Can’t stress this one enough. Once you have created your blogs get them out and share them with as many social media platforms that you can.
Make good use of your contacts. Social Media network platforms such as LinkedIn offers great opportunities to meet other likeminded groups and individuals. Reach out to others to discover how you guys can share information and make one another's information accessible for each others website visitors and blog audience. Ask if you guys can link up? Nothing beats a failure but a try. Whatever you blog about, wherever you decide to link to, it should lead back to your website and eventually a landing page where your sale await. If nothing else at least you're getting your presence known.
Blogs can also, Tell your story, why you started. Relate your services/purpose. And, share your vision.
Don’t just post about you, your services and products at one, two, or three websites. Share your post everywhere you are welcomed and it makes sense that you do. Use all of the free to small fee social media services you can find, especially those social media platforms that will help you build your support base of potential prospects and market target. Such as, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest, Funky S.a.K.com, to name a few. Of course my business specializes in one particular area, but it encompasses all areas of the arts. None-the-less, to increase your on-line presence you must create your website, post blogs, and make comments on a variety of social media networks where your voice can be heard, and your services, and products have an opportunity to be discovered.
Lastly, Generate brand awareness through networking.
Create a win-win relationship in your business
Give. Help others out before seeking in return. Believe it, or not this usually creates a desire in others to help you.
Target your market. Be transparent in the type of audience you seek in your delivery of service. This saves a lot of time and others will know who and what you are looking for right from the start.
Stay in contact. Make time in the day to stay connected with your audience.
Here are some websites that may interest you:
How to Brand Yourself When you’re Just Starting-Out
www.personalbrandingblog.com/how-to-brand-yourself-when-your-just-starting-out/
How to Brand Yourself On A Small Budget –Forbes
www.forbes.com/how-to-brand-yourself-on-a-small-budget
How to Brand Yourself On-line/ eHow
www.ehow.com/how_2109979_brand-yourself-online.html
What would you add to this list? Did you find the list informative and helpful? Thank you for leaving a comment.
My name is Katie v. Flowers. I am a professional Visual artist, founder of Funky S.a.K.com/Original Artwork & Original Art Prints and, Arts Promoter. I blog to encourage and show support for the novice, intermediate and advanced entrepreneur. Please visit my website for similar blogs and to view art related content.
Artwork: @Reserved by Katie v. Flowers
Best Creative Regards!
www.funkysak.com
