Getting noticed online is huge for businesses of all sizes. Whether you’re a small startup or an established brand, you need to be visible in search results and social media feeds. But don’t worry—it doesn’t take a complete overhaul of your strategy to boost your online presence. With a few simple adjustments, you can make a big impact.
Here are 10 easy things to get found online and start growing your business that you can change right now!
1. Optimize Your Website for Search Engines (SEO)
If you’re not already optimizing your website for search engines, you’re missing out on one of the easiest ways to increase visibility. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) helps your website show up in search results when people search for terms related to your business. It’s all about getting the right content in front of the right people.
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Start with Keywords:
Think about what your customers are searching for. If you own a flower shop, for example, keywords like “fresh flowers near me” or “flower delivery in [city]” should be a part of your website content. Tools like Google Keyword Planner or SEMrush are your friends here.
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Don’t Forget Meta Descriptions:
Each page on your website should have a unique meta description. This is what shows up below your page title in search results. Make it catchy and, of course, include keywords. For example: "Shop fresh flowers for any occasion with quick delivery in [City]."
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Image Alt Text:
Google can’t "see" your images, so help it out by describing what each image is. Instead of naming an image “flowers.jpg,” describe it like “bouquet of red roses.” This helps your SEO and makes your website more accessible!
2. Update Your Google My Business Profile
Google My Business (GMB) is like your online storefront on Google. If you haven’t updated your GMB profile recently, it’s time to give it a little love. This simple, free tool helps your business show up on Google Search and Maps. And let’s be real, who doesn’t Google things before deciding where to spend their money or visit?
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Complete Your Profile:
Make sure everything is accurate—business hours, location, website link, phone number. If you’re closed for a holiday, update that info right away.
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Add Photos:
Customers are more likely to engage with businesses that share photos. Upload pictures of your products, your team, or your business in action. For example, if you’re a restaurant, post images of your best dishes.
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Get Reviews:
Reviews are gold. Ask your happy customers to leave a review on your GMB page. Positive reviews can make a big difference in attracting new customers, and responding to them (even the negative ones!) shows you care.
3. Engage on Social Media
Social media isn’t just a place to post cute dog pictures (although that’s never a bad idea!). It’s a powerful tool to build relationships, share your story, and connect with your audience. Being active on social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn can boost your visibility and drive traffic to your website.
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Be Consistent:
Post regularly. It could be once a day, a few times a week—whatever works best for your business. If you sell handmade candles, for example, share behind-the-scenes content of your production process or highlight a “Candle of the Week” to keep your audience engaged.
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Host Contests:
People love freebies! Create content to go along with this. Run a fun contest or giveaway where people need to like, comment, or share to enter.
- Not only does this boost engagement, but it can also introduce your brand to a wider audience. Can’t give away anything? Offer them free helpful knowledge, like e-books or how-tos.
- Make Your Giveaway Matter
Think beyond the generic “win a free iPad!” Giveaways should be strategic, not just attention-grabbing. An IPad might get a lot of entries, but will those people actually convert into customers? Instead, offer something only your ideal audience would truly value. For example, a lighting company giving away one of their grow lights. Only actual growers would enter, meaning every lead is highly qualified. Align your prize with your product or service, and you’ll attract the right audience, not just any audience.
4. Start a Blog (and Keep It Fresh)
Blogging is a great way to get more eyes on your website. It helps you show up in search results when people search for answers to questions related to your business. Plus, it gives your audience something to engage with and share.
5. Make Your Website Mobile-Friendly
With more people using smartphones to browse the web than ever before, having a mobile-friendly web pages are non-negotiable. If your site doesn’t load quickly or doesn’t look good on a small screen, users are going to bounce—and fast.
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Test for Responsiveness:
A mobile-friendly website adjusts to fit any screen size, whether it’s a phone or tablet. Use tools like Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to check how your site fares.
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Simplify Navigation:
Mobile users are often on the go, so make sure your website is easy to navigate with large buttons and simple menus. Less is more when it comes to mobile design and having the best user experience.
6. Use Local Listings to Your Advantage
Listing your business on local directories and niche-specific platforms is one of the easiest ways to show up in local searches. Whether it’s Yelp, TripAdvisor, or any industry-specific directories, these listings can give your business a much-needed visibility boost.
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Ensure Consistency:
Make sure your business name, address, phone number, and website are consistent across all listings. Inaccurate information can hurt your search rankings and confuse potential customers.
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Get Reviews:
Much like Google My Business, reviews on local listing sites are crucial. Encourage happy customers to leave reviews and always engage with them, whether the review is positive or constructive.
7. Add Structured Data (Schema Markup) to Your Website
Schema markup might sound like techy jargon, but it’s actually a super useful tool for improving your SEO. It helps search engines understand the content of your site and can give you a competitive edge.
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Rich Snippets:
With schema markup, your website could appear with rich snippets in search results—like showing your rating stars, pricing, or availability directly in search. Imagine your restaurant listing showing up with ratings and a menu right there!
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Ask for Help:
Schema markup can be tricky, but there are plenty of plugins (for WordPress) and guides to help. If you’re unsure, reach out to an expert.
8. Leverage Influencer Marketing
Influencer marketing isn’t just for big brands. Collaborating with influencers—people who have a loyal following in your niche—can help you reach a broader audience and boost your credibility.
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Find Your People:
Look for influencers who align with your brand’s values and target audience. If you sell organic skincare products, reach out to influencers in the wellness space to review your products or services
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Giveaways and Discounts:
Influencers love offering their followers exclusive deals. Partner with them to create discount codes or run a giveaway for even more engagement.
9. Improve Your Website’s Speed
Nobody likes a slow website, and a slow website can actually hurt your SEO rankings. Make sure your pages load quickly, especially on mobile devices.
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Image Compression:
Large images can slow your site down. Use tools like TinyPNG to compress your images without losing quality.
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Minimize Code:
If you have a lot of unnecessary scripts or code on your site, it can slow things down. Clean up your code to improve speed.
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Use a CDN:
A Content Delivery Network (CDN) speeds up your website by serving content from servers that are closer to the user’s location. It’s a simple fix that makes a big difference.
10. Start Building Backlinks
Backlinks—links from other websites that point to yours—are like votes of confidence for your content. The more high-quality backlinks you have, the more search engines will trust your site.
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Guest Blog:
Write guest posts for blogs in your industry. Not only will you get exposure, but you’ll also score valuable backlinks.
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Collaborate with Other Brands:
Team up with other businesses in your niche for joint projects, events, or promotions. This can lead to backlinks and help increase your credibility.
Conclusion
There you have it—10 easy changes you can make today to improve your online visibility. From optimizing your web content and engaging on social media to utilizing local listings and influencer marketing, each of these steps will help you get found online. Start small, track your progress, and watch your brand grow!
Need a little extra help getting noticed online? ThrivePOP has you covered with expert digital marketing strategies that work. Reach out to us today, and we can get started on implementing these steps for you.