More than 70% of established small businesses have a website. Today, it’s one of the first orders of business when getting a venture off the ground.
In fact, a growing number of startups actually launch landing pages before even opening their doors. These landing pages may have sign-up forms for users, generating a sense of interest and exclusivity before launch day.
Your website is like a hub that connects all your marketing channels, from social media to SEO. They all direct to your website.
Building a website is a critical first step in your online presence journey, but what’s next?
Keep reading to keep building!
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Build an Online Presence on Google
A logical next step is to take advantage of Google’s free marketing tools. Google is the most popular search engine, boasting the highest market share.
Even better, you can leverage the following marketing avenues for free:
- My Business (Google’s Business Listings)
- Maps
- Shopping
- Google Ads
- Search console (for website analysis)
- Trends
- Google Analytics
- Google reviews
All you need is a website to access all of Google’s free marketing tools. The only channel you have to pay for is Google Ads, but the keyword research and site analytics tools are free to use; plus, all you need is a website to sign up for free.
Even better, if you do decide to launch a Google Ads campaign, you only pay per engagement. This cost-effective model is also known as pay-per-click.
You can run ads on:
- Google search pages (SERPS)
- Google Shopping
- Youtube
- Partner sites
Don’t forget about all of Google’s other free tools, like Docs, Sheets, and Slides. You can use these tools to organize your digital marketing campaigns and communicate with your team for free.
How to Create an Online Business Listing
The best way to start your Google marketing campaign is to create a free My Business listing. Have your website, business address, and phone number ready. You can always use a P.O. box as your business address; virtual mailbox addresses are also available.
Your listing will feature a prominent knowledge card with the following information:
- Contact information (phone number, address, and website)
- Hours of operation (if available)
- Business description
- Google reviews
- Photos and videos
- Google Maps (including street view)
You can also include a “click to call” option that lets users call your business directly from the listing, saving them a website visit. This option is great for return customers.
Digital Marketing With SEO
Next, fire up Google Search Console, Docs, and Sheets to kickstart your SEO campaigns. You can also use Google Analytics and Keyword Planner. The best campaigns use a combination of tools.
You’ll need a reliable SEO backlinks checker to audit your site’s backlinks. Once you’ve run a report, export the data to your Google Sheets to analyze the links. You can do this with competitors’ sites to discover new link-building opportunities, as well.
Your Online Presence Journey Awaits
Every business marketing journey starts with a website. From there, leverage Google marketing tools to make your online presence known on the first page for your company name and primary keywords.
Whether you want to build a brand or market an established business, the blog is also here to help. Discover tips and tricks across the board to inspire your next project.
