7 Strange Reasons Your Business Can’t Grab Attention Online
Most of today’s businesses need an online presence. Yes, there are exceptions, but they are few and far between.
But, unfortunately, only a fraction of startups actually get the attention they want. And sometimes, it’s because of weird reasons.
Fortunately, that’s where this post can help. We run through the strange problems brands encounter online when trying to get their audiences to notice them, and what can be done about it.
No Social Proof
Top of the list is the lack of social proof. You could have the best marketing and SEO in the world. But if prospective customers can’t find evidence of real service delivery (and the standards you apply), you’re stuck.
Fortunately, this problem is pretty easy to solve. All you need are reviews posted on Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Trustpilot, or anywhere else with high visibility. The moment your audience sees these, it will build trust and encourage them to shop with you.
You can also get your existing customers to create content on your behalf and post their experiences on YouTube. Again, it’s an excellent way to build credibility.
Inconsistent Branding
Another problem you might encounter is inconsistent branding. If the way your company looks seems to vary from one moment to the next, it could be because you’re not getting your image or appearance right across platforms. Changing your brand all the time makes customers worry you’re unprofessional or doubt who you say you are.
You can fix this by checking all your customer touch points and ensuring the branding is the same. Putting together a brand manual with all your colors and typefaces can also help. Marketers can use this documentation to calibrate the appearance of every campaign to meet your standards.
Neglecting SEO Basics
Neglecting SEO basics is another issue many brands encounter. They want to do the fancy stuff and get ahead quickly instead of focusing on the bread and butter (i.e. what works).
Fortunately, getting managed links and content usually resolves most of your SEO problems automatically. Handing over the fundamentals to someone else is a quick and cost-effective fix.
Of course, you could also try to do it yourself. But you might run into problems, especially if you aren’t that technical or you’re just starting out.
Ignoring Mobile
Also, your business might be getting into trouble and failing to grab online attention if you’re ignoring mobile. That’s because most consumers currently use their smartphones for shopping.
Again, avoiding this mistake is pretty simple: just use website creation tools and social media sites designed for mobile. If you’re not sure whether your site is mobile-optimized, use a mainstream template builder or check using Google’s site compatibility tool.
Ignoring Negative Feedback
No business likes to get negative feedback. But ignore it at your peril — it could explain why you’re failing to get the attention you deserve.
Negative feedback is a problem because of the sheer havoc it can wreak. Once word gets out about a problem with your brand on social media, it’s hard to put that genie back in the bottle.
Therefore, put social listening software in place that lets you respond to negative feedback in real time. Assure your clients and customers you’re doing everything you can to address the issues they raise.
Using Too Much Automation
Remember when Tesla struggled to get their new car factory up and running and it led to massive delays in vehicle deliveries? That was an example of trying to use too much technology. The car company thought it could automate everything, only to later discover it desperately needed people, too.
Automation can sometimes seem like a friend. But because machines have no minds, it doesn’t always work out the way you planned. AIs can sometimes pursue goals that undermine the strength and integrity of your business.
The solution is pretty simple: use more people instead of automation when appropriate. Or start out with manual processes and make sure those are working before you automate them. Ensure you plug all the holes in your operation so automation can’t derail your efforts.
Ignoring Niche Communities
Most marketers want to appeal to a mainstream audience – and you can understand why. That’s where most of the business lies.
However, it might not be the optimal approach for some companies with niches. That’s because most of their buyers come from specific demographics.
To deal with this, adjust your marketing and SEO to reflect your customer persona – the customer type you think you have. Adjust the language to appeal to individuals in these segments, even if it sounds funny to you.
So there you have it: some of the strange reasons your business can’t grab any attention online. Now, pick one and get started fixing that issue today.