7 Crucial Things Needed to Boost Your Online Business in the First Year

Featured article by Carolyn Andreason, Tech Enthusiast and Dedicated Writer

The online world has grown crowded, and it’s still increasing in volume. It has become the perfect medium for startups, with endless possibilities and open doors for a new business to develop. However, with the vicious competition, certain details of success become forgotten or neglected. It’s important to take the time to implement the right strategies and processes in your new company.

Every business wants to get noticed and gain that prime spot on the first page of Google searches. However, that takes a bit more than a quality product or service. That is the unfortunate truth. While your online business may be the epitome of the ideal company, it may remain on the latter pages due to poor optimization and the fact that you have mismanaged its visibility. You can stop it before it happens, though.

1.     Deliver High-Quality at High-Speeds

Your information must be relevant and engaging that captivates your target audience. After you properly understand who your viewers are, you must capture their attention. Remember that no company will last long by advertising itself as “the biggest”. Always market yourself as “the best”. Your content should reflect that strong belief and reinforce it by offering education on the industry and innovation. Discover your brand identity and keep to that voice in order to create a personality for your business.

However, once your customers have a high opinion of your content, so should search engines. They are harsher judges who often go by sophisticated algorithms that search engines have not revealed entirely. In your first year and beyond that, you need to earn credibility and visibility in the eyes of Google. One detail we know for sure, however, is that the search engine giant prefers ranking websites with high load speeds. It’s essential for optimization and delivering a good experience to your customers.

Be careful how you create links when building your website to make it user-friendly. Load speeds and an easy-to-use interface are key to boosting conversion rates and visibility by improving your image in the face of Google. According to Amazon, an increase of 100 milliseconds in load time can increase revenue by 1%.

2.     Never Stop A/B Testing

Simply put, A/B testing, otherwise known as split testing, means creating two versions of the online page of your business and assessing which one fares better. It’s easy and necessary, yet many companies neglect it in the beginning. However, it’s not mandatory only when you have a developed business that has taken off and want to make alterations. It’s just as efficient in the first year when you are attempting to find the best version.

There is no such thing as perfect, so A/B testing should never stop. It’s more than tweaking fonts, color, and sizes. Start by changing the headline, proposition value, layout, call to action, or different types of media. There are no limitations, and it will only result in more knowledge and understanding that will ultimately boost your online business.

3.     Remember It’s All Mobile

Consumer habits of internet data have changed dramatically in the past couple of years. The rise of the smartphone has forced numerous companies into adapting their website to the smallest of screens. It’s now a crucial factor if you want to boost your online business. In fact, it’s one of the vital mistakes many make when building their website. That is why you must pay unforgiving attention to having responsive pages, apps, and real-time notifications. The easier you make it, the better.

A good majority of consumers might pass over your website if the response is slow and not customized for mobile. Even worse, they will not be back. One visit might just discourage them from trying in the future. It’s a mistake that no business can afford, especially in the first year as its reputation is building.

4.     Get Social and Stay Active

Social media channels have become a powerful way to boost your online presence and your business in turn. It’s not longer just for personal use. Companies have invaded it and made clever use of its features to increase their conversion rates. In the first year, it’s an absolute necessity. It’s a direct way to communicate with your clients and test out the capabilities of your customer care agents. In this day and age, there’s more than Facebook and LinkedIn.

There are numerous more channels, such as Twitter, Instagram, Google+, or even Snapchat that can help increase your online presence. However, it’s quality over quantity. If you want to boost your online business in the first year, pick just one channel and manage it. That implies staying active, offering updates, replying to comments, be it good or bad, and scheduling your posts carefully. There is a fine line between being informative and spam. While there is no official set limit, an average of two to three posts per day should suffice.

5.     Focus On Building Trust

You are new in a crowded market. No one knows who you are, what you sell, and why they should pick you among the rest. Sales guru Zig Ziglar once said that there are four reasons why a customer will not buy from you:

• They don’t need your product;
• They don’t have the money for your product;
• They are not in a hurry to purchase your product;
• They do not trust you;

While there is not much you can do about the first three, you can build trust to boost your online business. That means focusing on increasing the credibility of your website. Include testimonials, an address to show you are a real organization, highlight your expertise, have clear contact information, update your content often, and restrain the urge of littering your pages with ads.

6.     Diversify Your Content to Video

Google owns YouTube, and Google is the search engine in charge of your site’s visibility. Anyone can connect the dots and understand that you must have a presence on one so the other would notice you quicker. In the digital age, content needs to be diversified. In order to boost your online business, it’s crucial that you tackle all the types channels available and media content. This includes video.

It may be far from the comfort zone of many company owners, but it’s an excellent way of boosting conversion rates and visibility. They do not have to be lengthy or flashy. A simple, 5-minute long video of you speaking about your company or certain blog pieces on your site is enough. Make sure that you upload it on YouTube, deliver it through social media, and be meticulous with your choice of keywords and tags. Today, video content is no longer an option. It’s a necessity if you want to boost your online business.

7.     Don’t Just Actively Encourage Feedback, But Listen to It

Numerous companies encourage feedback from their customers, but it’s important to show that you are listening. Send emails to new clients, inquiring their opinions and even their suggestions on how you can improve their experience. Sometimes, they might offer ideas that could truly boost your business. And if they don’t, you will be seen as thoughtful and dedicated that you asked. It’s a win-win.

Test ways on how you can make your site more interesting and interactive. The crucial factor here is to focus on their experience, not your own. Before you make a change on your website layout, have sales, or change any aspect, pitch the idea to your customers and offer them time to reply. Their insight could lead you to better suggestions. Your clients need to be engaged with your product or service, not just use it.

The challenges you face will be plentiful, but your company’s name will not become lost in the overcrowded world of the wide web.

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Carolyn Andreason is a tech enthusiast and dedicated writer. Her days are split between her customer care role at FindInternet.ca & her freelancing gigs. She is highly devoted to helping people develop their business and guiding new entrepreneurs on the path to success.