# Social Media and Websites – How Businesses Can Get it Right
In today’s digital age, businesses need to have a strong online presence to succeed. When customers want to learn more about a business, the first place they usually turn is the Internet. This has made it essential for businesses to set up both a website and social media accounts. By doing so, when customers enter search terms in Google, information about the company will appear.
However, just having an online presence isn’t enough. Studies have shown that businesses that actively engage customers can expect to grow 40 percent faster than those that don’t have an online presence at all. Therefore, it’s crucial to build and maintain an active online presence. Here are a few steps you should take to get it right.
## Putting Your Domain Name to Work
The first step towards building an online presence is choosing a domain name. Once you’ve registered a domain name, the next step is to publish a winning website. However, there are several ways you can use your domain name to build your business’s online presence.
One option is to redirect your domain to an existing website. This could be an existing platform for your business, like a WordPress or Blogger blog. Alternatively, you can redirect a new domain name to a social media site, which can act as your business’s temporary landing page. While having both a website and social media presence that work together is ideal, sometimes new businesses can’t realistically do both in their early, more formative days.
## Starting on Social Media
For any new business, social media is a great way to set up an online presence at no cost whatsoever. Social media sites come with a built-in base of potential customers, making them the perfect outlet for testing the online waters. However, unlike your own website, you won’t have the level of control you’ll have with your own website.
By registering your business’s web address and directing it to point to one of your social media accounts, you’ll be able to set up your online identity, build your brand, and market your business with a professional web address that customers can easily remember.
Of course, social media is at its best when it’s being used as a marketing tool. As soon as possible, though, brands should begin working on developing and deploying a website, which will give a brand optimum control. With so many drag-and-drop-based website development tools, businesses can create their own websites without even calling upon a design professional to help. Once a website is in place, a brand will have the benefit of a scalable online presence that can be updated as needed.
## Designing Your Website
Once designed, your business’s website should serve as your central hub, providing a place for customers to go when they need information. All of your other marketing efforts should drive customers to that website to engage, learn, and, hopefully, buy. Over time, your website and social media presences will serve to complement each other, offering similar information but in different ways.
To make your website effective, you need to design it properly. Here are a few tips to get you started:
– Choose a design that’s easy to navigate and visually appealing.
– Make sure the website is compatible with mobile devices.
– Ensure fast page load times by optimizing images and using a content delivery network (CDN).
– Use high-quality images and videos to showcase your products or services.
– Include a clear call-to-action (CTA) on every page to encourage customers to take action.
## Conclusion
In conclusion, businesses need to have a strong online presence to succeed in today’s digital age. To get it right, businesses should start by choosing a domain name and setting up a website. Additionally, social media can be a great way to set up an online presence at no cost. Once your website is up and running, it should be your central hub, providing a place for customers to go when they need information. By following these steps, businesses can build an online presence that engages customers and drives growth.
This article was brought to you in partnership with Verisign, the global leader in domain names and internet security. All opinions and experiences expressed are my own.