Just because you build it, doesn’t mean they will come. The online world is full of websites that are gathering cobwebs because people can’t find them. They don’t show up in relevant searches and there’s no regular digital outreach being done by the site owners.
Establishing a robust online presence is crucial for the success of any IT business. You want to attract more customers, showcase your expertise, and stand out from your competitors. But how do you achieve that in a crowded and competitive digital landscape?
That’s where our digital blueprint comes in. This comprehensive plan helps you optimize your online visibility and reach your target audience. It covers everything you need to build a robust and searchable online presence.
How to Get Found Online by Potential Customers
Before diving into the specifics of building a strong online presence, it’s essential to understand the current digital landscape. The Internet is a vast and dynamic space where MSP businesses compete for attention and customers.
To stand out, your IT business needs a comprehensive approach that encompasses various digital channels and platforms. You also need to be strategic.
For example, smartly utilizing long-tail keywords that incorporate your service areas, rather than a generic term like “computer support.” No one wants to be competing with Microsoft and Apple for search results position, right?
Just how important is search visibility? It’s getting more so as the generations age. Over half (55%) of millennials won’t consider brands that don’t show up in their search results or have bad reviews.
Below in our guide for improving your online presence, you’ll find several steps to getting found online by your potential customers.
Crafting a Compelling Website
The foundation of your online presence is your business website. A well-designed and user-friendly website is the first step in establishing credibility and attracting potential clients.
Ensure that your website is responsive, optimized for search engines, and provides a seamless user experience. A clear and concise representation of your services, along with compelling visuals, will leave a lasting impression on visitors.
Check out: 8 Best MSP Website Elements for Converting Visitors to Clients
Create a Good Site Foundation
Remember back in the olden days when you could have a site that was “http://” without a security certificate? Those days are long gone!
Now, if you want to put up any website, even those without a shopping cart, you’d better have an “https://” before the site URL. Otherwise, your site will trigger all types of warnings from browsers and security software.
A good site foundation means having elements like that security certificate in place. Another important element is a responsive site that can be easily read and navigated on any device, including smaller smartphone screens. And don’t forget site loading speed. That’s important too.
Google looks at these types of things and will lower your search ranking if you don’t have those best practices in place.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Strategies
With millions of websites vying for attention, appearing on the first page of search engine results is crucial. Implementing effective SEO strategies will enhance your website’s visibility and drive organic traffic.
Putting together an overall search optimization plan involves things like:
- Conducting keyword research relevant to your IT services
- Optimizing meta tags on your service pages
- Creating high-quality, relevant content
- Having a company blog that is kept updated
Optimize Your Website for Local SEO
Local SEO is the practice of optimizing your website for the specific locations and keywords that your potential customers are searching for. For example, if you offer computer repair services in Seattle, you want to rank for terms like “computer repair Seattle” or “Seattle IT support”.
To do this, you need to include these keywords in your website content, title tags, meta descriptions, and headings. It’s also helpful to have landing pages for specific localities.
For example, if your IT business serves both Seattle and Tacoma, Washington, you may want to have service pages for each. This allows you to add those city names naturally into the text, helping your visibility when people search for IT services for a particular city.
Leveraging Social Media Platforms
Social media is another powerful way to increase your online visibility and connect with your potential and existing customers. You can use platforms like Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, and others to share valuable content, showcase your work, answer questions, provide customer service, and build relationships.
You can also use social media ads to target your local audience based on their location, interests, behavior, and other criteria. Social media has become an integral part of the digital landscape, so you need to have it included in your content marketing strategy.
Content Marketing for Thought Leadership
Establishing your IT business as a thought leader in the industry is a powerful way to build trust and credibility. Develop a content marketing strategy that includes creating informative blog posts, whitepapers, case studies, and other relevant content. Share your expertise, insights, and success stories to position your business as an authority in the IT sector.
Creating and distributing quality content gets Google’s attention. In the vast world of the Internet, its bots are always seeking out fresh information to serve up for relevant searches.
Content can be in various formats, such as:
- Blog posts
- Videos
- Podcasts
- eBooks
- Infographics
- Webinars
- and more
The key is to provide value to your audience and solve their problems or answer their questions. To distribute your content effectively, you need to use the right channels (such as your website, email list, and social media platforms) and optimize it all with your SEO keywords.
Email Marketing for Targeted Outreach
Email marketing remains a highly effective tool for targeted communication. Build a subscriber list and create personalized email campaigns to nurture leads and maintain communication with existing clients. Share valuable insights, updates, and exclusive offers to keep your audience engaged and informed about your IT services.
Read more: Tips for Putting Out an Engaging IT Business Newsletter in Less Time
Embracing Video Content
The popularity of video content continues to rise, making it a valuable addition to your digital blueprint. Create informative and visually appealing videos that showcase your IT solutions, highlight case studies, or provide tutorials.
Platforms like YouTube and Vimeo offer opportunities to reach a wider audience and increase brand visibility. Videos are also often featured in Google’s search results, so you’re setting yourself up for better visibility when you regularly publish and optimize your videos for SEO.
Claim and Update Your Google Business Profile
The Google Business Profile is a free tool that allows you to create and manage a profile for your business on Google. This profile shows up when people search for your business name or related keywords on Google Maps or Google Search.
It displays important information about your business, such as your address, phone number, hours, reviews, photos, and more. To claim your profile, you need to verify your business with Google and then update it with accurate and relevant information. You can also use Google Business Profile to post updates, respond to reviews, and track your performance.
Ask For and Respond to Reviews
Online reviews are one of the most influential factors that affect your online reputation and visibility. Reviews are 7.4x more likely to be a factor in choosing a local business than traditional marketing.
You should encourage your satisfied customers to leave positive reviews for your business on platforms like Google, Yelp, Facebook, and others. You can do this by asking them directly after a service or sending them an email or a text message with a link to your review page.
Responding to reviews keeps your visibility engine going. No matter whether you’re responding to a positive or negative review, responding at all scores you points. It can even improve your reputation on less than stellar reviews.
Monitoring and Analytics
A successful digital strategy is not a one-time effort but an ongoing process that requires monitoring and analysis. Utilize tools like Google Analytics to track website traffic, user behavior, and the performance of your digital marketing efforts. Analyzing the data will help you identify areas of improvement and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Gain SEO Traction One Step at a Time
Strengthening the online visibility of your IT business requires a strategic and holistic approach. It also involves doing things one step at a time, so you’re not overwhelmed. By following these steps, you can boost your online visibility as a local IT business and reach more customers who need your services.
Keep evolving with the digital landscape to stay ahead and make your IT business thrive in the competitive online environment.
If you need help improving your online visibility and lead generation, reach out to us today. We are a team of experienced MSP marketing experts who care about helping you grow your business.
What’s your biggest challenge when it comes to attracting new customers? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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