Remember High School? There were kids that stood out,
the popular ones. Someone would speak their name and
everyone would say "yea, I've heard about him/her".
Popularity was everything. Well, the times may have
changed but the basic concept is the same. Popularity
is alive and well on the Internet.
So what makes some businesses/people stand out online
while others fade off into the Internet haze?
There's a method to this madness and I'm going to explain
it to you.
Pretend you were a resident in the XYZ community.
Now how would you make yourself known as part of
the neighborhood? Maybe by associating with
your neighbors, participating in community groups,
maybe even running for council. You could stay
home and just keep to yourself, but no one will
know who you are or what you stand for. It's the
same online.
The Internet may be a different kind of neighborhood,
but it's still a community of people, and it functions
on the same principals.
In order to get your business or name out there, you
need to create a buzz. To create that buzz you need to
get involved in various online activities. You should
be doing some, or all of the following on a weekly
basis to get your name out there amongst the people.
1) Post to various web based bulletin boards
2) Publish your own Ezine/Newsletter
3) Make sure you include a script on your
homepage that allows visitors to recomend your
site to their friends with just a click. Referals
from friends carry a lot of weight, so you
really should be taking advantage of this one.
4) Writing short articles and getting them
published in various newsletters- Take it
from me this one works. Nothing will establish
you as an expert or send you as much traffic
as getting published. Once people see your
name popping up over and over, they just
have to visit your website if just only out
of curiosity.
5) Network with the "Top Online Players'
By hanging out with the successful people you can
learn a lot as well as bask in part of their
spotlight. Don't be afraid to ask them to partner
with you or run an ad for you endorsing your
product or service. You'd be surprised at the
numbre of people who will help you online if
you just ask.
So, now you think that creating an online presence
is a lot of hard work? Well, you're right, it is!
But with anything in life, you get out of it what
you put into it.
Creating an online identity is one of the most
important things you can do for yourself online.
Along with an identity comes a sense of trust.
When people trust you, they will want to become
your customers and buy your products and services.
After all, that's why you're online in the first
place, isn't it? Now, who are you again.......
About the Author
Merle
http://www.mcpromotions.com/
Helping Small Businesses Create an Online Presence
Because Just Having a Website isn't Enough!
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