How to Determine if Your Business Has a Strong Web Presence

What does “web presence” mean, and why is it important?

Web presence (aka online presence or digital footprint) is the existence of a Business on the internet. Whatever your industry is, consumers are using the internet to find products and services; will they be giving their business to your company or to your competitors? As a business owner, you can help consumers make their decision by having a well established, trustworthy web presence that outshines your competitors.

There are several factors that play a role in having a strong online presence. Ask yourself the following questions to determine if your small business has a Strong Web Presence or if there is room for improvement.

Branding

• Does your business have consistent, coherent branding on the web?
• Does your business look professional and trustworthy to searchers?
• Is your brand recognisable so you can build trust with potential customers?

Your brand is everything a consumer sees and thinks about your business including your logo, ads, website, Social Media, signage, locations, and reputation. It is both what attracts your customers and gains their trust. Having consistent brand guidelines is important for your business’s image to remain professional and trustworthy.

Keywords

• Are you targeting specific keywords relevant to your business?
• Are your targeted keywords the same words and phrases that your potential customers are using?

Having a keyword strategy is the backbone of a successful SEO strategy. When targeting potential clients online, ensure that your web pages are optimized for words and phrases that searchers are actually using. Utilizing a keyword tool that provides information for particular words and phrases will help you determine which keywords are the most beneficial for your business to target. Use these keywords in your content, metadata, and alt text. Beware of keyword stuffing – you don’t want your content to seem spammy.

Search Engine Presence

• Are people able to find your business on search engines?
• Do you have accurate, consistent business information across all platforms?
• Can consumers easily find information about your business that they need?

Note: Searching for your business on Google is not a good indication of your search engine presence. This is because every user has different search results based on location, previous searches, and browsing history. With that said, here’s a simple test to see relatively where you stand in the search results for a generic user: open http://www.isearchfrom.com/, input your country and language, then search “brand name + location” (for example, “Honey + Hare Bend Oregon”). Ensure that your business has Google My Business information populating on the right side of the page, and that your website is in at least the top 5 results. Look for search results from Yelp, Facebook, Yellowpages, and other platforms where business information is listed. Anywhere that your NAP (name, address, phone number) is listed is called a citation. The more consistent your citations are, the more Google and other search engines trust your business and website. The more trust your website has, the higher it will rank in the search results. Make sure that your business hours, walk-in location addresses, and any other relevant information is easily found.

Website Structure

• Does your website have an SSL certificate?
• Is your website mobile friendly?
• Do you have an accurate, organized sitemap?
• Is your website’s content helpful, valuable, and keyword-optimized?
• Is your content answering questions that your target audience is asking?
• Are you consistently creating new and relevant content?

Your on-page strategy is everything that is, you guessed it, ON your website. Trust with search engines and users is everything – having a secure, mobile-friendly, SEO optimized website will build that trust so your website ranks higher in the search results. Consistently posting new content in the form of blogs, videos, and photos will show Google and other search engines that you’re present and always working to improve your website. All of these actions gain trust!

Social Media, Participation, and Reputation

• What are people saying about you in reviews and on social media?
• Do you respond to good and bad reviews across the web?
• Do you consistently post content to social media?
• Do you respond to comments and feedback from users on social media?

Check your business reviews on Google My Business, Facebook, Yelp, and any other industry relevant review platforms. If you have a good review, thank the reviewer for taking the time to write something kind about your business. If you have a negative review, reply with an apology, an explanation, and/or a solution to the problem. Create a realistic social media posting schedule and stick to it. These actions show consumers (and search engines) that you are active and engaged.

Honey + Hare is Here to Help!

At Honey + Hare, we understand the importance of a strong web presence so potential customers can find, recognise, and trust your business. Our designers will create a beautifully designed logo, brand guideline book, or website for your business. Our SEO experts are determined to build you an effective keyword-optimized SEO strategy for your website. Our copywriters are here to provide relevant, valuable, keyword-optimized content for your web pages, blog, or social media. Whether your business is in need of everything from the ground up, or help in a specific area or two, Honey + Hare is excited to work with you. Contact us today to discuss how we can help your business by creating an effective online presence.