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
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