5 Tips to Increase Web Presence

Is word-of-mouth marketing dead? Some will argue yes and others may disagree. The answer: Not quite.

It simply converted into a digital form. In the past, customers shared their experiences and recommendations with others they know—in person.

And they do the same thing today, except they use the internet to spread the word. This can be a good or bad thing for your business, depending on what they're saying.

This is why it's critical to increase web presence for your local business. With that, you can better control what people see about your company. When anyone looks up your business, they'll see your website and hopefully some great reviews and ratings.

But to get here, you need to start claiming your position on the web. Here are five methods you can use to do so.

1. Build a Site for Mobile Users to Increase Web Presence

Creating a website for your local business will make huge strides in establishing your online presence. Yet, only 64% of small businesses have one.

This could be a good thing for your business since there's less competition. Now, you don't want to shoot yourself in the foot by developing a site that doesn't cater to mobile devices.

Especially since mobile users now exceed desktop users. Roughly 88% of mobile local searches lead to a call or store visit within 24 hours.

So, the moral of the story is:

If you want to increase web presence, then focus on building a responsive website that adapts to screen size. This one tweak is worth a lot if you're trying to attract mobile users.

Given that 61% of mobile searchers more likely to call a business that's mobile-friendly—wouldn't you agree?

2. Increase Web Presence with Optimized Business Citations

A user doesn't have to type in your business name to find you on the web. At least, not when you're properly optimizing your local search listings.

Creating listings in Google My Business (and other directories) can significantly increase web presence for your local company. Plus, it's free to do.

But how do you optimize your business citations?

You can start by adding all of your business details, including NAP (name, address, and phone number). These are critical and must match what's on your website. If it doesn't, then Google will think it's incorrect and will de-rank your listing.

Selecting the right categories for your business is also crucial, since this is how most people will search for you. Again, users don't need to search for your business name in order to find you.

If you're optimized for searches involving your niche, then you are more likely to show up in the results.

3. Participate On Social Media to Increase Web Presence

Conversations are permeating across the web. And they're the perfect gateway to getting your business in front of prospects. Social media is one type of platform you can use to achieve this goal.

You can create a business page and optimize it like you did your business listing. In fact, doing so will help users find your business in Facebook's directory.

Once you've added all your details and photos, it's time to engage. You can try starting conversations on other people's posts to drive attention to your account. If folks like what you're saying, they may like and follow your page.

4. Don't Leave Reviewers Hanging—Respond!

It's ideal to respond to both positive and negative reviews left about your business. These will show up on your business listings on Google, Yelp, and anywhere else you have a citation.

If someone gives positive feedback, thank them.

If someone leaves a negative review, you may be able to turn it to your advantage. 

Keep it professional and respond as quickly as possible. Try to determine whether the review is legitimate. If it seems fishy, then flag it as fraudulent so it can be removed.

Otherwise, try to see if you can get to the bottom of the issue and offer a solution. Who knows, maybe the reviewer will change their review to a positive one!

Then as you continue to increase web presence, your prospects will see more positive reviews than negative ones.

5. Offer Incentives to Customers to Leave Reviews

Most customers don't leave a review unless they've had a negative experience with a company. So how do you get more positive online reviews?

The best option is to ask your customers to leave a review after making a purchase. Depending on your product, you may want to ask immediately or several days after.

Then to sweeten the deal, you can offer an incentive in exchange for an honest review—keyword: honest.

If you offer a gift for a positive review, then you're paying for reviews. This is a quick way to tarnish your brand's reputation.

So avoid this behavior at all costs.

By establishing a mix of good and bad views, you can demonstrate to prospects how you manage your customers. When they're upset, you cater to their needs. And the ones who are happy—well, you did something right from the start.

A Special Guide On How to Increase Web Presence

You understand that you need to increase web presence for your business. But taking your company from zero visibility to max visibility may be overwhelming.

Fortunately, there are tools you can use to help you along. For instance, there's GoSite's placement tool, which enables you to claim and create business listings across 70+ directories. And it's all done in a single platform.

Not sure where to begin or how to manage it all? Not to worry—download our free guide on the fundamentals of local search!