Over 4 out of 5 consumers research a company online before committing to a purchase, according to Zippia. As a small business owner, it’s vital that your business appears online and is easy to find. As technology and consumer habits continue to evolve, small businesses must keep up to ensure they have a competitive edge in the digital world.

We’ve compiled this guide to help your small businesses improve its digital presence in the coming year.

Why is Digital Presence Important in 2023?

In the digital age, businesses need to maintain an active online presence. Your target audience is spending more time than ever online, and if you’re away, you’re missing out on potential customers.

According to the latest reports, a user spends approximately 147 minutes online each day.

Having an active digital presence can help you seem more trustworthy and credible to your target audience.

A strong digital presence in an increasingly competitive marketplace can give you the edge you need to succeed. With so much potential, there’s no reason not to prioritize digital presence in 2023.

How to Improve Your Small Business Digital Presence in 2023

     1. Create a Stunning Mobile-Friendly Website

There’s no question that in today’s business landscape, having a website is essential. In fact, most successful small businesses have a website. Consumers expect to find a business’s website quickly and easily.

Although having a website is a step in the right direction, your site will only bring you true success if it is mobile-friendly. With more and more people(about 53.7%) using their smartphones and tablets to surf the web, it’s crucial that your site be designed for these devices.

Mobile-friendly sites are easy to navigate and provide an enjoyable user experience. They are also more likely to rank higher in search engine results, making them more visible to potential customers.

     2. Come Up with a Robust Strategy

Before you can start driving traffic to your business online, you need to come up with a robust strategy. This means taking the time to research your target market, understanding what they’re looking for, and then creating content that meets their needs.

It’s also important to consider how you’ll reach your target market; will you use paid advertising, social media, or search engine optimization?

Once you have a clear idea of your goals and target market, you can start putting together your plan of attack.

For long-term success, staying up-to-date with the latest trends and developments in digital marketing is important.

By taking the time to develop a strong strategy, you’ll increase your chances of success and ensure that your business online is a success.

Pro Tip: Only some businesses work well with SEO or social media marketing; for better results, consider using both.

     3. Maintain Your Social Media Presence

Social media is a key part of any business’s success.

71% of small-to-medium businesses use social media for marketing purposes, and of those who do, over half post daily content.

Not only does social media help build brand awareness, but it also provides a great platform to engage with customers and create relationships.

But you might need to realize that having social media accounts is not enough. You also need to keep your social media presence active and engaging if you want to reap the benefits.

There are a number of ways to do this.

– Make sure you regularly post fresh content on your social media platforms. This could include blog posts, images, infographics, videos, etc.
– Interact with your followers regularly. Reply to comments, ask questions, and start conversations.
– Don’t be afraid to experiment with new ideas and strategies. Social media is constantly in flux, so those who want to win need to be able to adapt.

These tips will ultimately lead to a more successful business.

     4. Create Relevant Content with Your Audience in Mind

Creating content that appeals to your audience is how you create a relevant digital presence. This is especially important for local businesses. 76% of consumers say they’re more likely to visit a store if they have an appropriate digital presence.

So, what exactly is relevant content?

It’s content tailored to your target audience’s interests and can be consumed on their preferred platform. It’s also timely, accurate, and informative while still being engaging and visually appealing.

For example, create content that helps people learn more about your community or promotes local events if you’re a local business. If you sell products or services, you should create content that provides an inside look at your business or showcases your work in a new light.

     5. Include Video Content in Your Marketing Strategy

With the advent of social media, video has become an increasingly popular way to connect with potential customers if you’re looking for a way to engage your audience and set yourself apart from the competition, consider incorporating video content into your marketing strategy.

86% of marketing professionals said they use video as a tool for marketing, according to a survey.

Video is highly shareable, which means it has the potential to reach a wide audience. It’s also an engaging format that can capture attention and hold interest. And since it’s so easy to consume, people are more likely to watch a video than read a long-form article.

There are plenty of ways to incorporate video content into your marketing strategy. You could create product demonstrations, instructional videos, customer testimonials, or even just simple brand awareness clips. If you can produce quality videos that people will enjoy watching, you’ll be well on your way to increasing leads and sales for your business.

     6. Leveraging SEO for Greater Visibility

Search engine optimization (SEO) is essential to any digital marketing strategy. Long-term SEO strategies are focused on increasing your organic search engine ranking, which helps you get more visibility in search results.

Consistent blogging is an important part of SEO. You should produce fresh content regularly, such as weekly blog posts optimized for search engines. This will help you rank higher in search results and drive more traffic to your website.

     7. Build a Subscriber List

A subscriber list can be a powerful marketing tool. By collecting email addresses and other contact information, you can stay in touch with your customers and build a relationship of trust and loyalty. In addition, a subscriber list can be a great way to generate leads and drive sales. However, building a subscriber list can be challenging. Here are a few tips to get started:

          1.) Make it easy for people to sign up. Include an opt-in form on your website and make sure it’s visible and easy to find. You can also promote your subscription list on social media or through other marketing channels.

          2.) Offer an incentive for signing up. People are more likely to sign up if they know they’ll receive something in return, so offer a discount, exclusive content, or another perk for subscribing.

           3.) Keep your list clean. Remove inactive subscribers from the list on a regular basis to keep your database current. This will help ensure that you’re only sending emails to people interested in hearing from you.

     8. Make Your Company Information Clear and Prominent

Who you are is a crucial part of conveying your brand. Make sure you clearly display information about your company on your websites, such as your location, contact details, and mission statement. You’ll also want to make sure that this information is easy to find — ideally on the homepage or in a dedicated “About Us” section.

Having this information easily accessible will help potential customers get to know your company and build trust in your brand.

     9. Maintain a Constant Presence & Brand Voice

No matter your brand’s goals, it’s important to maintain a consistent presence and voice across all channels. Whether it’s social media, email marketing, or website content, make sure the message you’re putting out is unified and recognizable.

     10. Make It Personal

Lastly, don’t forget to make it personal. People are more likely to engage with content if they feel connected or are familiar with the brand. So show off your company’s human side using personal stories, images, and videos related to your brand’s values.

Gain Trust. Get Results.

Whether a small business or a large corporation, building trust with your customers is key to successful marketing. Properly executed marketing strategies, such as developing content and advertising online, will help you build that trust and get the results you’re looking for.

Above all, make sure you’re providing a consistent, quality experience for your customers across all channels and platforms. If you do that, your brand will be well on its way to success.