There is no two-way to it. Having an online presence in today’s digitalized age is essential for business success.  It is the tool to growing a business reputation, generating leads and driving sales. However, we can’t ignore the fact that there are more than enough businesses daily selling the same products, marketing the same services, using ads, building social media presence and many more. After all, everyone wants to have their own share of what the power of the internet has to offer. ‘Companies need to understand how to cut through the noise, make an impression and grow their business amidst the highly competitive landscape. Although there might not be anything new when it comes to online business. But business unique needs are different and understanding what works for you is the key, says Raymond Halliwell, a passionate digital marketing professional.

Here are important things businesses need to do shared by the digital marketing expert, Raymond Halliwell to set up their brands for successful online business. 

Anyone can create a website these days, but not everyone can build a website that drives results. This means you need a team of experts who understand what it takes to build a high-quality and high performing website. For this, 

Build a unique website that reflects your brand, needs and meets your audience demands. While at it, keep it simple, and easy for anyone who visits your website. 

Give your website a flawless customer experience. The loading speed, the design, visuals and images, all should be one that delights consumers. 

Make your website mobile-friendly. Modern consumers have gone from desktop to mobile which means you need to make your website mobile-friendly to attract mobile users. 

Create high-quality content and give your audience the right information to keep them engaging with your brand. 

Understand that having a website alone cannot make your business grow, it is simply the starting point and a means to an end. You also need to adopt the right strategies and techniques to position your business right in front of your target audience in order to build traffic, drive leads to increase the bottom line. When it comes to marketing, two of the major approaches employed are PPC and SEO. 

PPC stands for pay-per-click in which you make use of paid ads to drive traffic to your site. 

SEO stands for Search engine optimization and it is the process of improving your site to increase its visibility and get it ranking high on the search result. 

SEO provides the visibility that your business needs to drive traffic to your site. For this, you do not need to pay but only need to optimize the website to increase searchability. This way, your business will be easily discovered by anyone in need of your business. 

PPC allows you to display your advertisement in front of actively engaged consumers at the right moment they are looking for your products or services online. It’s a great way to gain instant visibility while providing more opportunities to convert prospects to paying customers. 

Having an online presence also comes with its own negativity if not managed properly. That is why you need to take full control of your digital presence to ensure it is working for your good. This will require you to:

Build a positive brand image and engage with your audience at all levels. This way, you will be able to understand their needs, and work towards making it happen. 

Track reviews and mentions to correct any negative ones and appreciate the positive ones. 

Correct errors and update any old information to ensure consumers stay up-to-date with your business. 

Ensure consistent connection with the audience to create a buzz around your brand while building customer trust.