# 3 Tips for Building a Strong Online Presence
In today’s digital age, having a solid online presence is crucial for any business. It serves as a virtual storefront that helps customers find and interact with your brand. Whether you’re a local business or an e-commerce giant, the vast majority of customers will search for information online before making a decision. Therefore, it’s essential to establish a strong online presence that engages with your audience and showcases your brand’s value proposition.
Here are three tips for building a strong online presence for your brand:
## 1. Leverage Social Networks and E-commerce
Social media and e-commerce platforms are a great starting point for building your online presence. With over a billion people interacting with these platforms, you can leverage their built-in user base to reach a wider audience. Setting up a page on these sites is relatively easy, and it’s a great way to start building your online reputation.
However, it’s essential to remember that these external sites can change, and you could lose your audience overnight. Therefore, it’s crucial to invest in a domain name that points to your social media or e-commerce page. A domain name is your online identity, and it’s something that customers will remember even if these external sites change.
## 2. Use Company-Branded Email
Using a branded email address is a small yet significant step towards building your brand’s credibility. A full 90 percent of people surveyed say they feel more comfortable working with a small business that has a branded email. It adds a layer of professionalism and trust that you’ll need as a new business. Securing a domain name is relatively easy and inexpensive, and you can still use your favorite email client to manage your email.
## 3. Create Your Company Website
A website is your online business card, and it’s the most critical component of your online presence. While social media and e-commerce platforms are essential, having your own domain name gives you more control and flexibility. With a domain name, you can point it to your social media or e-commerce page or set up a basic WordPress site to serve as your web page. If you want something more comprehensive, a service like Wix or Weebly can help.
Your website should be visually appealing, easy to navigate, and informative. It should provide customers with all the information they need, such as your products or services, contact information, and business hours. Moreover, it should reflect your brand’s identity and values, so make sure to choose the right color palette, images, and fonts that align with your brand.
## Conclusion
Building a strong online presence takes time, effort, and consistency. It’s not something that you can achieve overnight, but it’s worth the investment if you want to grow your business. Start by leveraging social media and e-commerce platforms, use a company-branded email, and create your own website. These three tips will help you establish your brand’s online identity and reach a wider audience.
Remember, your domain name is the most critical aspect of your online presence, so choose it wisely. A .com or .net extension is the best option, and make sure to choose a name that customers can easily remember and associate with your brand.
By following these tips, you’ll be on your way to building a strong online presence that engages with your audience, expands your reach, and boosts your business’s growth.
This article was written in partnership with Verisign, the global leader in domain names and internet security. All opinions and experiences expressed are my own.
