You know you have to have an online presence in order to survive in today's noisy, competitive business world. No matter how fantastic your service or product is, you won't make any money if people don't know you. The more channels of exposure you can get, the bigger the audience you will reach. So, what are some ways you can begin building your online presence? Below, seven founders share their feedback.
A. Through Expert Content
One thing that's really effective is providing expert content for an industry-related article. People will immediately see you as an authority and spread that content across multiple platforms, giving you wide and long-lasting exposure. - Thomas Edwards, The Professional Wingman®
A. With Unpublished Facebook Ads
Facebook has powerful tools that not only get you online exposure for your business, but can harness said exposure from the exact customers that would pay for your product. Social media gurus like Gary V. have unlocked the secrets of targeted ads so that you can literally post your content to 25-35-year-old female professionals in the Greater Boston Area who like small dogs and own a Fitbit. - Zimin Hang, Ultradia
A. Through the Power of Social Hustle
Don't forget the power of hustling on social media. Engage in conversations with customers, aspirational organizations, and industry specific groups. I often use the term "invite yourself to their party" -- do that. Be proactive in your approach and authentic in your message. The goal is to build a relationship, not sell to someone. Be curious, make them feel important, and be interesting. - Steven Picanza, Latin&Code
A. By Guest Writing
Although it's gotten a bad rap from Google lately (thanks to the high volume of extremely low-quality guest blogs on the web), they're actually a highlyeffective marketing tool. Share your expertise with the right people and get articles published on the right websites, and you'll have clients coming to you in droves. - Steven Buchwald, Buchwald & Associates
A. By Reaching Out Online
I spend about 30 percent of my time either reaching out to reporters or writing interesting content for The Huffington Post and other outlets. The media is a huge validator, and getting great press drives a ton of online sales. - Lisa Curtis, Kuli Kuli
A. By Having Good SEO
We are an SEO agency and built our own site from the ground up (several years ago). SEO has provided us with some of the best leads imaginable. When you rank first in Google, people tend to have a trust in you as a business and seem more "ready to buy" than prospects from other sources. We have built our whole company on SEO, and client referrals and continue to grow each year. - Christopher Rodgers, Colorado SEO Pros
A. Through Testimonials and Word of Mouth
Nothing speaks louder than genuine testimonials and someone recommending your brand or services to a friend or colleague. Once you've received a few testimonials from clients, it's time to build out a section of your site to show your client success. Seventy-two percent of people online trust reviews and testimonials. Now is the best time to start using them in your business and branding as well. - Zac Johnson, How To Start A Blog
These answers are provided by members of FounderSociety, an invitation-only organization comprised of ambitious startup founders and business owners.