5 Ways to Take Control of Your Online Presence

Whether you like it or not, customers are searching for your business online. If you don’t take responsibility of what’s out there, they might not like what they see.

The internet has made it incredibly easy for people to post information about your company online — photos, reviews, and even contact details, but unverified information can often be misleading. In fact, it can even be dangerous for your business.

If you don’t keep your contact details updated, such as phone numbers or addresses, your customers might not be able to reach you. There is also the risk of your competitors badmouthing you online through rumors or negative reviews on Facebook, Twitter, and other social platforms.

This is exactly why you need to be in charge and act fast.

Here are 5 foolproof ways to take control of your online presence:

1. Create A Website

Before anything else, create an official website for your business. Your website is like your virtual storefront — make sure it’s professional, updated, and in line with your brand identity.

Tell your story through an “About Us” section on your professional business website. This will help explain to customers what exactly it is that you do and specialize in.

Also, consider adding a blog to your website — it’s a great way to share valuable content with your audience, such as company insights, guides, and how-to’s. Blogging about relevant topics can help you educate customers about your business, establish yourself as an expert in your niche, and rank higher on search engine results.

Another essential part of your website is your contact page. This is where you can share your updated contact details with customers, like phone numbers and addresses. A good idea is to add a contact form to make it easier for people to reach you.

You can also embed a Google Maps widget on the contact page, so customers can easily find you. Lastly, don’t forget to add links to all your different social media accounts.

2. Be Present on Social Platforms

Being present on relevant social media platforms is a great way to reach out and bond with your customers in their ‘natural habitat’.

There are lots of ways you can use social media. Regularly post engaging content, start conversations with your followers, share any offers and promotions, and ask for feedback. Customers can also leave reviews and queries on your social media pages. Make sure you respond to as many people as you can.

It is also a good practice to link all your social media accounts to your website. It allows your customers to find you through these platforms.

Remember, you don’t need to be present on all social networks out there. Pick the ones relevant to your business and target audience. For example, if your customers are 18–29 year old females, Facebook and Instagram are excellent choices. Similarly, companies targeting businesses and working professionals would consider LinkedIn as a top priority.

3. Display Social Proof

There’s only one thing better than happy customers and positive reviews — that is making sure potential customers know about it.

Leveraging social proof is the art of ensuring that your success speaks for itself. There are multiple ways to utilize social proof.

For instance, you can showcase positive customer reviews on your website and social media pages. This will not only build trust in potential customers, it will also encourage other customers to share their positive experiences with your brand.

Another way to leverage social proof is by showcasing user-generated content on your social media or website, such as photos of customers using your product or service.

You can also include any badges or certifications at the bottom of your website — this encourages potential customers to approach you as they find you more credible.

4. Claim Your Listings

To effectively control your online presence, it’s important that you claim what is yours. In this case, it is your online business listings.

People are going to search for your company on multiple platforms, such as search engines or Google Maps. You need to make sure the information they see is verified and up-to-date.

Along with misleading customers, outdated contact details can actually create a bad perception about your brand. Updating phone numbers, addresses, and links makes you look professional and approachable.

On Google Maps, customers often look out for the hours you’re open for business. Make sure you update your timings along with all the other details, so customers manage to reach you successfully.

5. Monitor Your Online Mentions

The internet is too big — you can never fully control everything that’s being said about your business. What you can do, however, is keep track of it — and respond timely if need be.

Monitoring your online mentions also gives you a chance to have a peek at authentic feedback — one that businesses actually pay for.

The best part is you can use this feedback to improve your business, products, and services. For example, if people are admiring an item on your restaurant’s menu, you can highlight it more in your future branding. In the same way, if people are complaining about your customer service, you can focus on making it better.

The key is to know where to look. You can either do that manually or use a social listening and media monitoring tool, like Google Alerts or Mention.

Take Charge of Your Online Presence

In this day and age, taking control of your online presence is necessary to avoid risking your brand’s reputation that you’ve worked so hard to maintain.

Whether you’re in charge or not — there’s always going to be some kind of information about your business on the internet. Make sure it’s verified, up-to-date, and aligned with your brand.

The steps above will help you get started.